FYI I saw a photo yesterday of Amadea at the Loutoka wharf with 5-6 fuel trucks alongside her which suggests she has bunkered already. I lived in Fiji for many years and you would be correct to say someone in the Govt. stuffed up, very common in fact there's a local saying "it wasn't me"! Also Nadi is most definitely is pronounced Nandi.
The newspapers in Fiji are reporting that Amadea did not seek prior approval to enter Fiji waters. Currently, there is no crew on board as they have been arrested.
Well that's like governments everywhere ..in the U.S. it's called the United States Postal Service or The Internal Revenue Service, The Food and Drug Administration, The Centers for Disease Control etc etc etc.
Great content! I've sailed into Fiji many many times ( some even on youtube) there's still a 48-hour pre-arrival notification for Customs and immigrations which can be done underway before the 48-hour limit although this may have change with covid. Looks like they went through a Navula pass to get up to Lautoka which is one of the only docks other than Suva that could accommodate them. The water in Lautoka port is covered in black oil (I found out the hard way) most super yachts anchor outside of Denarau or in parts of the Yasawas and pay for customs to come out and clear them. There are some but Not many places to hide a yacht that size in the Pacific! Keep up the great work
Yesterday- Thursday, the Australian Broadcasting Commission on line news service and The Age newspaper were both reporting she was seized. Both reports also stated that she HAD NOT received a customs clearance prior to arrival and had just ‘turned up’ . The Age had this quote - “We’ll need clarification on that then we can comment on that,” Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete was quoted by the Fiji Times as saying. “We don’t do Russians.”
He failed to consider that these billionaires are accustomed to solving most of their problems with money. An honest investigation would shaow that in the past Yachts have tied up there without jumping through all of the prerequisite hoops.
I have a friend in Fiji working on commercial charters. He told me they been held due to breeches in quarantine and immigration, Fiji has been very strict about covid and even assuming they requested entry they would have been most likely denied.
I saw a headline about this yacht from a news website. Instead of reading that, I just came to this channel to find out the real story. Sure enough this video predates the news website's story, which was probably based off this video. What a great resource this channel is.
We love your frank and all-facts deliberate delivery, answering questions in a realistic way, and suggesting what may be going on. AND, thank God, yours is not one of those cheerful language-mangling robot voices with fake inflections throughout. One cheerful fact- somehow the in-port ongoing maintenance fees will be distributed down from the ill-gotten wealth of the oligarchs and "redistributed" to ports, crew, fuel companies, ships chandlers, food, governments, security forces all over the place outside of Russia. After Russia is hopefully defeated, the sanctioning governments should offer a super-yacht to Ukraine and Zelensky, WITH operating costs,.. financed by the sale of other super-yachts seized and sold for 'reparations' . Now THERE's a happy thought. Cheers, Port of Montreal. Canada. (2 kayaks, 3 canoes, 17' runabout)🙂
Zelensky is probably one of the worse war criminals of the last 50 years. Offering him anything more than 3 bullets at point range, is a total waste. Remember he made a genuine genocide of Ukrainians in Donbass From 2014to 2022. 13 000 murders. Hi defeat is almost accomplished, fortunately.
What probably happened: All the approvals had been obtained for docking and fueling by the agent from the government agencies, and everyone was happy. Then some third assistant at the US consulate watched your report on the boat going to Fiji, and mentioned it to his boss, who went apoplectic. The US Consulate then contacted someone near the top of the Fiji government and requested that they detain the vessel and make inquiries.
The boss would not go "apoplectic" - pressuring governments to do things is just a part of the job, there is no drama involved. Most likely it was quite a hushed discussion....
I was thinking something like that too. Since the ownership seems questionable, they'll have to come up with some reasonable answer why the boat suddenly left port to rush it's way over half of the Pacific enroute to Vladivostok. If the owner is all legit and not on the sanctionslist then there is no need for such a trip.
Safe bet something like this has happened, although Im betting it was on request of the Australian government rather than the US. Australia is much closer (in any manner you care to describe) to Fiji than the US and would be much faster at getting something like this done than the US
The 4th option is that the owners orders changed mid trip. From memory it didn’t always have Fuji listed as it’s destination on this trip, and for a time you were speculating that was their destination until the tracking confirmed that. Fiji relies heavily on help from foreign countries so it’s not a surprise that they are receiving help with this.
If we could only have our news channels (CNN, ABC etc) be as honest and straightforward as you to report the facts or point out possible options what a beautiful world it would be.
I love these reports. You are always very well informed on all facets of the yachts and operations surrounding then. I live in Maine, USA, and am a 22 year retiree of federal law enforcement. 21 of those years were spent working out of a major midewestern city. One of the first rules of a comprehensive investigation is to follow the money. Many a complex investigation has been successfully prosecuted using this. The arrest and conviction of AL Capone, is one of the earliest and most famous of these types if cases. In several investigations I worked on we were tracking the money and assets of known drug suppliers or even just local dealers. We would see them driving very flashy cars, living in nice condos or houses, etc. But invariably the high dollar asset was in someone else's name. The criminal feels protected but it doesn't usually work out that way. We would bring in the registered owner, and question him or her, and also examine their financial situation. Quite often the registered owner in no way shape or form had the income or financial assets to support the purchase of such assets. So enter our colleagues from Federal and state taxes agents. When one of these agents is suddenly presented a huge tax bill, with enormous penalties attached, which they must either pay or face real federal or state prison time, they suddenly get very chatty. Their criminal "friend" or relative isn't interested in paying the bill, and the claimed owners suddenly start turning states evidence. I never dealt with a super yacht, but considering the colloidal sums of money involved in all the facets of owning and operating one of these vessels, the idea that grandma Ludmilla, who's pension is 5,000 rubles a month, owns a superyacht is preposterous, and no jury in the world is going to buy into that fantasy tale. And if grandma suddenly gives the tax authorities a big check for past due money's, we'll guess what, she's going to have to answer a lot of questions about where that money came from. It becomes a vicious trap for the concealment owners of these things. My guess is that is how these various countries law enforcement agencies are pursuing these cases.
Reminds me of a case where a retired school teacher was the named account holder of a $40 million overseas bank account. That scheme crumbled like sandcastle in a hurricane.
I like how you’re making it clear to us not in-the-know, just how complex and expensive it is for these boats to perform up to their specifications (like a trans-pacific trip at speed).. I’m nearly speechless at the hubris & status-seeking it takes to build & operate one of these monsters.. Anyway, it’s blown up in their faces now..
I remember telling my brother in law who was an ambitious and a fresh millionaire who was looking to get a boat. I said that the cost of the vessel will be repeated every 5 years by FUEL costs Cleaning costs Berthing costs AND CREW TAXES AND MAINTENANCE AND CATERING a hefty price to ensure ensure the ego is stroked
Yes it takes hubris and status-seeking to build a super yacht but mostly it takes a butt load of money. Let us not begrudge the super rich their idle pleasures because we are all thinking we probably would if we could unless you get seasick. Then a super yacht is not attractive no matter how big it is.
@@comachos maybe we should make people ashamed of hubris while kids die from cancer, or starve with no food?, just perhaps there should be greater problems solved in life for smaller persons? healthcare for all kids should be a right, and food, water,, before one man gets a yacht...would be human decency
Thank you for taking time to educate us on moving these yachts to another country’s port and some costs involved. Your explanations are easily understood. I hope you and your support have a great day.
he has an interesting accent ... not scott ? welch ? cornish ? he has vowel slips To The Real value of the vowels ! instead of the english slurr vowell chaos.. oh excuse please: "vowel shift" as charlie chan would surely appologize.
His telling clearly and without shitty talks what situation is. That Russian sanctions must work otherwise they do just how they done before. Times changes. Even Ritchie have some rules now and something to lose
Esysman's videos were generally interesting and informative before the Russian / Ukrainian War. He's well informed and says what he knows, what he thinks, what he's told, etc - and tells you which the info is. I think he's doing a great job.
Unlikely thing occur when people are desperate. I think its plausible that M/Y Amadea departed from her port in the Caribbean headed to the pacific w/o having a clear idea of where they would refuel at but they decided to go to Fiji w/o proper notification of the authorities and once there the action to arrest / seize the yacht was made. This is a situation that it's better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. Plus, what person trying to evade authorities in one jurisdiction notifies authorities in a separate jurisdiction of their upcoming arrival. Great job on keeping all of us informed on the current situation in the yachting industry.
Very likely. Fiji doesn't have the "usual" extradition treaties with other countries. Having a US consulate there, as mentioned in the story here, doesn't mean the US has any special powers.
Watching FBI agents in full paraphernalia board that vsl in Spain tells you they are actively tracking those yachts to seize them. It’s a hunt & The Fiji consulate is orchestrating this theft. What else are they doing in Fiji ? Lol
While, I tend to agree with you eSysman. These as you well know are not normal times. And especially when it comes to SuperYachts owned by Russian Billionaires. Under normal circumstances no yacht would travel anywhere without the proper paperwork.... But in some ways it would make sense with what has happened in Fiji. The chances are if they had of filed paperwork they would have been rejected. For the owner of the vessel which is better. Let it stay where it is or move it to a (in their perception) better location. Of course they run the risk that berthing could be denied but unlikely, afterall the vessel could claim either accurately or not that they have no more fuel to travel anywhere else. In the interests of safety in that instance Fiji could not just let them leave. But, instead give them a berthing spot and say "ok your here illegally your boat is held pending further information". Maybe Fiji was its true destination from the start but, to prevent it being blocked before starting, its true destination was masked by using another location. The other thing to take into account too is the weather.... There was a cyclone up in that region which ended up moving down and brushed New Zealand. It was called Cyclone Fili. That also could have played a part.
Perhaps a little (a lot of?) Russian oligarch money changed hands to facilitate the special handling of the yacht’s arrival? A few million here, a few million could have a lot of influence. I am sure the yacht carries multi-millions in currency, negotiable instruments, gold, etc. for such payments.
We’ve known since it exited the Panama Canal that it was headed to Fiji. It was on the EIS as the destination. That said, they could have been hoping that they would get to bull their way through by saying that this was just a fuel stop, no one was going ashore, and dropping a half million dollars into the economy. But they gave Fiji an excuse to arrest the vessel without actually citing sanctions as a reason.
@@Markle2k It is very likely that Fijian war marine is inexistant. Same for their army. Now that he has refueled, the best for the captain, is to move his yacht off this hostile port, for exemple at 3 a.m. when everybody snoozes. Why respect piracy?
I have a friend who was ships doctor on one of the biggest SuperYachts. He was on around €250,000 per year for working 6 months. Captain would be considerably more.
There’s a big difference between “the laws says you have to do this” and “I actually acted in accordance with the law”. I could see a situation where somebody desperate to get their yacht away would sail without doing the requisite paperwork and then beg forgiveness upon arrival.
Could you do a video, on how this is effecting the rest of the yachting world. Just guessing, most of these islands, or small states/countries, don’t know who their dealing with. Or do they refuse service to any boat above a certain size?
I took a deep breath at the he same time!😋. As always, great seamanship clarity of all issues. So many details involved that most of us watching had previously no knowledge about. Telling a story with an unfamiliar theme AND, making it very interesting, is an art. 🤗😍😎
As I said before, Fiji is a Commonwealth Country, and if anyone should get involved it's Britain, and as there is a few Russian boats under sanctions there. The British High Commission to Fiji should be the ones to press Fiji in this matter. The Australian and New Zealand High Commissions to Fiji could also sponsor this work on behalf of Britain if pressed. But having said all that, the ball is in Fiji's court now, let them decide without outside pressure.
I don't see why. A. Fiji is an independent sovereign country. The Commonwealth is not a succesor to the British Empire. They can make their own minds up. B. there is already British High Commission located in Suva which handles the affairs concerning Fiji. So no need for Britain, Australia or New Zealand to step in. C. The British High Commission is meant for British nationals. Only if there are crew members on board with British nationality could the do something for that person, but not for those without a British passport. Let alone for the boat. As you said the ball is in Fiji's court and they will figure out what they want to do with it.
Nice to see other knowledgeable seamen giving additional thoughts. I grew up on Chesapeake Bay. My step father taught me to operate our 21' inboard/outboard when I was 11. Helped my mother study and pass coast guard exam for pilot's license in 1956. Love boats and the ocean. Love this channel. Not only unique, but educational AND entertaining.🤗😎
UK will have provided the government of Fiji with relevant security service intelligence & would naturally cooperate if requested. I would add it would greatly benefit the relationship between the UK & Fiji if they sign ownership of Amadea over to me for... reasons. 🤣
The sound was so good on this recording, it sounded like there were people walking behind me up the walkway and they were definitely travelling right to left!
I predicted that she would have ‘problems’ with Fiji when you first mentioned she was heading that way. A better option would have been the Solomon Islands given their political leanings at the moment. The correct pronunciation of Nadi was the second one.
You can turn of AIS with permission fro your insurance company because you are in hostile waters. Wouldn't surprise me if the insurance company imposes conditions.
Not vessel related. What an amazing logo you have. Probably among the best I have seen. Three lines only and it is immediately clear what it is related to. Super job. Thanks for your insights into a world I will never be privy to.
With the amount of fuel they are after it is a good way to clear all the contaminated fuel out . Fiji is very well known for dodgy fuel. I used to work doing engine repairs for sailing yachts in Australia and New Zealand and the amount of yachts having engine problems due to fuel was crazy.
Well it would certainly be dodgy fuel if I sold it to them... be whistling away whilst quietly filling the tanks with 300,000 litres of sea water! At $2 / ltr to boot! "Oh, I'm so sorry. Please have the real owner fill out a complaint form"
one of two things happened: 1. They fled the med wanting to refuel in fiji and didnt have time to deal with all paperwork 2 days before they left. so they hoped they would deal with paperwork during the 18 (?) day trip but fiji didnt alow it. 2. They had all paperwork sorted out and after landing in Fiji the US applied gentle pressure to Fiji
Thanks for the update. It sure is nice to see more countries stepping up to make sure the people most benefiting from Russian wealth are held accountable. I am sure the ownership is going to be insanely twisted. All the recent actions speak volumes that this vessel was running from sanctions. I am also wondering who is insuring and certifying this vessel.
The fourth option is: The USA or UK found out through security pipeline or 'eSysman', the probable port Amadeas was heading towards & requested the Fijian Gov't to hold/arrest/seize her until beneficial ownership was established. This, I believe, is the most likely explanation.
Absolutely - eSysman is getting live updates from ordinary people across the globe - Government authorities do not have access that proliferate of info themselves
eSysman, I have had one of the worst days ever. I mean that. I saw this video was available just now and it gave me a tiny glimmer of joy. Thank you so much for these videos. I’ve learned so much about sailing and yachts from you.
I think people don’t understand how much goes into these yachts and how they are the pride and joy of these billionaires. And people say it doesn’t hurt them. It absolutely does. Years go into the development of them. All gone in a moment. And rightfully so
Fiji diesel price as at April 2022 is 1.045 Euro. One of the reasons for the apparently comparatively cheap price is that normal road and other taxes are charged separately for road vehicles. Yes it's pronounced Nandi. (Fun consonant facts: In Fijian a D is voiced "nd" and a B is voiced "mb")
If you have the time and stamina, I would like to hear a breakdown on how this is affecting the superyacht industry. It seems to me that all of the companies that are contracted to provide the management services must be questioning their positions, along with all of the intermediaries between the beneficial owners and the stated owners.
Amadea gave the Fijian government cause to detain them. According to the Revenue and Customs site: upon approval given to enter Fiji will need to proceed straight to Port Denarau They failed to proceed to Denerau according to your information in the video.
@@philipmackin1025 I went and looked it up on the Fijian government sites. To take a yacht there you need to submit the documents and then wait for approval before leaving port to go directly there. The Revenue and Customs site specifies the port of entry to be Denarau only.
The US State Dept is super active in the South Pacific right now after the Chinese tried to get the Solomon Is sign off on a full military base. Nothing moves in the South Pacific unless Australia and the US approve it. The US consulate in Nadi (pronounced Nandi) will have had a big hand in this arrest. The threat of US sanctions on any Fiji official that assists this vessel is far too great to be bothered lifting a finger for them. Nope, that boat is staying in Fiji for the next few months
What absolute BS "Nothing moves in the South Pacific unless Australia and the US approve it." There are plenty of instances where Pacific Nations have slapped (metaphorically) the US and Australia down because of their pressure over certain issues.
Another awesome cliff hanger episode. You give fantastic unbiased opinions and knowledge. Thank you so much and have a very happy and blessed Easter. On another note. Think these powerful owners just MIGHT have enough influence to get their vessels into this port without going through proper channels? Be safe and thanks again.
Would be awesome to see the cost of superyachts, compared to commercial fishing, warships, and other types of ships. As always, thanks for doing such an incredible job covering all aspects of yachting news!
Question please - will all the Yachts be sold to new owners? Scrapped? Sunk? For Coral reef’s? As much as I support "discomfort" for the Oligarchs these "arrests" and "seizure" are just a temporary slap to them. Only very long term "punishment" will deter or work in my opinion. Thank you. Great reporting!
@@katiedotson704 Katie. You are correct if they have been arrested or seized under intenational maritime law (and the enabling laws in each country).However my undetsyanding is that property can also be directly seized in relation to debt recovery (no different from other property under financial treaties/local laws) or directly seized under local laws that require proof of ownership. And if that proof is not provided in a particular period, it is auctioned off or kept by the government/agency as unclaimed property.
If the vessel's own can't pay for any number of things, creditors can place leans on the ships, which could lead to their being sold. The most likely scenario is the will sit at anchor and slowly rust or rot.
My Man - That was a question I've always had, What does it cost to refuel one of these super yachts. Thanks for that information - well done! The whole purpose of watching a video is to be educated and informed you've done that.
FYI I saw a photo yesterday of Amadea at the Loutoka wharf with 5-6 fuel trucks alongside her which suggests she has bunkered already. I lived in Fiji for many years and you would be correct to say someone in the Govt. stuffed up, very common in fact there's a local saying "it wasn't me"! Also Nadi is most definitely is pronounced Nandi.
That’s the modernized way of pronouncing it…originally it is pronounced “Na-dee”.
@@lelatuisovaturuva4259 Naa-n-dee.
The newspapers in Fiji are reporting that Amadea did not seek prior approval to enter Fiji waters. Currently, there is no crew on board as they have been arrested.
Well that's like governments everywhere ..in the U.S. it's called the United States Postal Service or The Internal Revenue Service, The Food and Drug Administration, The Centers for Disease Control etc etc etc.
Great content! I've sailed into Fiji many many times ( some even on youtube) there's still a 48-hour pre-arrival notification for Customs and immigrations which can be done underway before the 48-hour limit although this may have change with covid. Looks like they went through a Navula pass to get up to Lautoka which is one of the only docks other than Suva that could accommodate them. The water in Lautoka port is covered in black oil (I found out the hard way) most super yachts anchor outside of Denarau or in parts of the Yasawas and pay for customs to come out and clear them. There are some but Not many places to hide a yacht that size in the Pacific! Keep up the great work
Yesterday- Thursday, the Australian Broadcasting Commission on line news service and The Age newspaper were both reporting she was seized. Both reports also stated that she HAD NOT received a customs clearance prior to arrival and had just ‘turned up’ . The Age had this quote - “We’ll need clarification on that then we can comment on that,” Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete was quoted by the Fiji Times as saying. “We don’t do Russians.”
That's funny!🤣
He failed to consider that these billionaires are accustomed to solving most of their problems with money. An honest investigation would shaow that in the past Yachts have tied up there without jumping through all of the prerequisite hoops.
"Yacht?" No. "Obscenely wealthy, rich man’s 'up yours' gesture?" Better description.
@@hermanmiller3708 It is definitely possible that "cash on arrival" has worked just fine up until 2022.
Great stuff,
I have a friend in Fiji working on commercial charters. He told me they been held due to breeches in quarantine and immigration, Fiji has been very strict about covid and even assuming they requested entry they would have been most likely denied.
This is what was reported about it here in NZ.
FYI, mandatory 3 day quarantine for international arrivals in Fiji finished on the 7th of April.
590 thousand euro for a full thank??? 😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@DiscoFang Jacinda let you guys free yet?
@@grandsoleil56 We are NZ unchained. The sequel.
I saw a headline about this yacht from a news website. Instead of reading that, I just came to this channel to find out the real story. Sure enough this video predates the news website's story, which was probably based off this video. What a great resource this channel is.
We love your frank and all-facts deliberate delivery, answering questions in a realistic way, and suggesting what may be going on.
AND, thank God, yours is not one of those cheerful language-mangling robot voices with fake inflections throughout.
One cheerful fact- somehow the in-port ongoing maintenance fees will be distributed down from the ill-gotten wealth of the oligarchs
and "redistributed" to ports, crew, fuel companies, ships chandlers, food, governments, security forces all over the place outside of Russia.
After Russia is hopefully defeated, the sanctioning governments should offer a super-yacht to Ukraine and Zelensky, WITH operating costs,..
financed by the sale of other super-yachts seized and sold for 'reparations' . Now THERE's a happy thought.
Cheers, Port of Montreal. Canada. (2 kayaks, 3 canoes, 17' runabout)🙂
Zelensky is probably one of the worse war criminals of the last 50 years. Offering him anything more than 3 bullets at point range, is a total waste. Remember he made a genuine genocide of Ukrainians in Donbass From 2014to 2022. 13 000 murders. Hi defeat is almost accomplished, fortunately.
I love all the speculation on these boats. Fun! Great video!
What probably happened:
All the approvals had been obtained for docking and fueling by the agent from the government agencies, and everyone was happy. Then some third assistant at the US consulate watched your report on the boat going to Fiji, and mentioned it to his boss, who went apoplectic. The US Consulate then contacted someone near the top of the Fiji government and requested that they detain the vessel and make inquiries.
Certainly possible 😉
The boss would not go "apoplectic" - pressuring governments to do things is just a part of the job, there is no drama involved. Most likely it was quite a hushed discussion....
I was thinking something like that too. Since the ownership seems questionable, they'll have to come up with some reasonable answer why the boat suddenly left port to rush it's way over half of the Pacific enroute to Vladivostok. If the owner is all legit and not on the sanctionslist then there is no need for such a trip.
Safe bet something like this has happened, although Im betting it was on request of the Australian government rather than the US. Australia is much closer (in any manner you care to describe) to Fiji than the US and would be much faster at getting something like this done than the US
Never fails someone brings in America to the conversation
The 4th option is that the owners orders changed mid trip. From memory it didn’t always have Fuji listed as it’s destination on this trip, and for a time you were speculating that was their destination until the tracking confirmed that.
Fiji relies heavily on help from foreign countries so it’s not a surprise that they are receiving help with this.
Ah-ha. Pull the other one, it has bells on.
Thank you for your assessment of the situation. I just love all mystery
Until I see a paper trail that shows it received proper clearance, I tend to believe the Fijians. Permission to enter is not granted verbally.
Another brilliant video!
If we could only have our news channels (CNN, ABC etc) be as honest and straightforward as you to report the facts or point out possible options what a beautiful world it would be.
I love these reports. You are always very well informed on all facets of the yachts and operations surrounding then.
I live in Maine, USA, and am a 22 year retiree of federal law enforcement. 21 of those years were spent working out of a major midewestern city.
One of the first rules of a comprehensive investigation is to follow the money. Many a complex investigation has been successfully prosecuted using this. The arrest and conviction of AL Capone, is one of the earliest and most famous of these types if cases.
In several investigations I worked on we were tracking the money and assets of known drug suppliers or even just local dealers. We would see them driving very flashy cars, living in nice condos or houses, etc. But invariably the high dollar asset was in someone else's name. The criminal feels protected but it doesn't usually work out that way. We would bring in the registered owner, and question him or her, and also examine their financial situation. Quite often the registered owner in no way shape or form had the income or financial assets to support the purchase of such assets. So enter our colleagues from Federal and state taxes agents.
When one of these agents is suddenly presented a huge tax bill, with enormous penalties attached, which they must either pay or face real federal or state prison time, they suddenly get very chatty. Their criminal "friend" or relative isn't interested in paying the bill, and the claimed owners suddenly start turning states evidence.
I never dealt with a super yacht, but considering the colloidal sums of money involved in all the facets of owning and operating one of these vessels, the idea that grandma Ludmilla, who's pension is 5,000 rubles a month, owns a superyacht is preposterous, and no jury in the world is going to buy into that fantasy tale. And if grandma suddenly gives the tax authorities a big check for past due money's, we'll guess what, she's going to have to answer a lot of questions about where that money came from. It becomes a vicious trap for the concealment owners of these things.
My guess is that is how these various countries law enforcement agencies are pursuing these cases.
That’s great info, yes I have read about how they caught Al Capone, very interesting. Thanks for the info
Reminds me of a case where a retired school teacher was the named account holder of a $40 million overseas bank account. That scheme crumbled like sandcastle in a hurricane.
I like how you’re making it clear to us not in-the-know, just how complex and expensive it is for these boats to perform up to their specifications (like a trans-pacific trip at speed).. I’m nearly speechless at the hubris & status-seeking it takes to build & operate one of these monsters.. Anyway, it’s blown up in their faces now..
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT 👍
greed and egotism..
I remember telling my brother in law who was an ambitious and a fresh millionaire who was looking to get a boat.
I said that the cost of the vessel will be repeated every 5 years by FUEL costs
Cleaning costs
Berthing costs
AND CREW TAXES AND MAINTENANCE AND CATERING
a hefty price to ensure ensure the ego is stroked
Yes it takes hubris and status-seeking to build a super yacht but mostly it takes a butt load of money. Let us not begrudge the super rich their idle pleasures because we are all thinking we probably would if we could unless you get seasick. Then a super yacht is not attractive no matter how big it is.
@@comachos maybe we should make people ashamed of hubris while kids die from cancer, or starve with no food?, just perhaps there should be greater problems solved in life for smaller persons? healthcare for all kids should be a right, and food, water,, before one man gets a yacht...would be human decency
another excellent explainer, good work. your channel has rlly come into it's own.
Thanks for staying on top of all this ever changing and fluid information!!!! Very entertaining!!!
Thank you for taking time to educate us on moving these yachts to another country’s port and some costs involved. Your explanations are easily understood. I hope you and your support have a great day.
I never thought I would be this Enchanted listening to a British man talk about wealthy men and their ships 😎⛵
he has an interesting accent ... not scott ? welch ? cornish ? he has vowel slips To The Real value of the vowels ! instead of the english slurr vowell chaos.. oh excuse please: "vowel shift" as charlie chan would surely appologize.
The hole in the water you throw money in...
His telling clearly and without shitty talks what situation is. That Russian sanctions must work otherwise they do just how they done before. Times changes. Even Ritchie have some rules now and something to lose
Who knew? 😋
Esysman's videos were generally interesting and informative before the Russian / Ukrainian War. He's well informed and says what he knows, what he thinks, what he's told, etc - and tells you which the info is. I think he's doing a great job.
Unlikely thing occur when people are desperate. I think its plausible that M/Y Amadea departed from her port in the Caribbean headed to the pacific w/o having a clear idea of where they would refuel at but they decided to go to Fiji w/o proper notification of the authorities and once there the action to arrest / seize the yacht was made.
This is a situation that it's better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. Plus, what person trying to evade authorities in one jurisdiction notifies authorities in a separate jurisdiction of their upcoming arrival.
Great job on keeping all of us informed on the current situation in the yachting industry.
I like your ‘take’ on these things. Thanks.
Fourth option is that they made the voyage in desperation, and hoped they could straighten everything out when they got there.
This sounds like a very plausible scenario worth investigating!
Very likely. Fiji doesn't have the "usual" extradition treaties with other countries. Having a US consulate there, as mentioned in the story here, doesn't mean the US has any special powers.
@@DiscoFang l bet they do ,,,
Watching FBI agents in full paraphernalia board that vsl in Spain tells you they are actively tracking those yachts to seize them. It’s a hunt & The Fiji consulate is orchestrating this theft. What else are they doing in Fiji ? Lol
@@user-qh7rj9wj4p sorry not a theft the way they got there money was probably theft
While, I tend to agree with you eSysman. These as you well know are not normal times. And especially when it comes to SuperYachts owned by Russian Billionaires. Under normal circumstances no yacht would travel anywhere without the proper paperwork.... But in some ways it would make sense with what has happened in Fiji. The chances are if they had of filed paperwork they would have been rejected. For the owner of the vessel which is better. Let it stay where it is or move it to a (in their perception) better location. Of course they run the risk that berthing could be denied but unlikely, afterall the vessel could claim either accurately or not that they have no more fuel to travel anywhere else. In the interests of safety in that instance Fiji could not just let them leave. But, instead give them a berthing spot and say "ok your here illegally your boat is held pending further information". Maybe Fiji was its true destination from the start but, to prevent it being blocked before starting, its true destination was masked by using another location. The other thing to take into account too is the weather.... There was a cyclone up in that region which ended up moving down and brushed New Zealand. It was called Cyclone Fili. That also could have played a part.
Perhaps a little (a lot of?) Russian oligarch money changed hands to facilitate the special handling of the yacht’s arrival? A few million here, a few million could have a lot of influence. I am sure the yacht carries multi-millions in currency, negotiable instruments, gold, etc. for such payments.
We’ve known since it exited the Panama Canal that it was headed to Fiji. It was on the EIS as the destination. That said, they could have been hoping that they would get to bull their way through by saying that this was just a fuel stop, no one was going ashore, and dropping a half million dollars into the economy. But they gave Fiji an excuse to arrest the vessel without actually citing sanctions as a reason.
@@Markle2k It is very likely that Fijian war marine is inexistant. Same for their army. Now that he has refueled, the best for the captain, is to move his yacht off this hostile port, for exemple at 3 a.m. when everybody snoozes. Why respect piracy?
Excellent work !! Stay Safe & Keep Reporting !!
Awesome reporting. Thanks for sharing.
The right channel at the right time in this crazy world. Thank you for your knowledgeable insight into the super-yacht world.
Wow! What a mystery this is turning out to be! Thank you for great SuperYacht reporting!
17k views in 57 mins. Amazing sir, good content and good viewers with great comments...not seen much on the tube these days!!
Thank you for keeping the Frank updates.. I look forward to them
❤❤ Thank you for addressing my questions on fuel, range and cost. 👍👍
eSysman needs to have an intro fanfare with a lower third Chyron: "Breaking News!" Great job with all of these updates!
no not reeeeally they are historical and Instant Classics : )
Had background seagulls 🏝 🌞
Excellent research sir. What does a Captain of this sized yacht earn approximately? Thanks in advance.’
I got the impression that 1/4 million euro salaries is fairly typical. I imagine that twice that is likely too.
I have a friend who was ships doctor on one of the biggest SuperYachts. He was on around €250,000 per year for working 6 months. Captain would be considerably more.
Earning nothing at the moment i wouldnt think, he got caught
There’s a big difference between “the laws says you have to do this” and “I actually acted in accordance with the law”. I could see a situation where somebody desperate to get their yacht away would sail without doing the requisite paperwork and then beg forgiveness upon arrival.
it's better to ask for forgiveness than risk asking for approval has always been my motto!
Russian oligarch´s captains do NOT BEG.
When actions are to protect the proceeds on an ongoing criminal enterprise, forgiveness may not be forthcoming
Could you do a video, on how this is effecting the rest of the yachting world. Just guessing, most of these islands, or small states/countries, don’t know who their dealing with. Or do they refuse service to any boat above a certain size?
That would be an interesting topic
He who controls the fuel truck makes the rules, period.
I could see a lot of crossing your 'T's and dotting your 'I's going on instead of business as usual.
@@jwyzdm whom ever it's a quick payday for them
I took a deep breath at the he same time!😋. As always, great seamanship clarity of all issues. So many details involved that most of us watching had previously no knowledge about. Telling a story with an unfamiliar theme AND, making it very interesting, is an art. 🤗😍😎
As I said before, Fiji is a Commonwealth Country, and if anyone should get involved it's Britain, and as there is a few Russian boats under sanctions there. The British High Commission to Fiji should be the ones to press Fiji in this matter. The Australian and New Zealand High Commissions to Fiji could also sponsor this work on behalf of Britain if pressed. But having said all that, the ball is in Fiji's court now, let them decide without outside pressure.
Fiji is a Sovereign State, why would Britain be involved?
I don't see why.
A. Fiji is an independent sovereign country. The Commonwealth is not a succesor to the British Empire. They can make their own minds up.
B. there is already British High Commission located in Suva which handles the affairs concerning Fiji. So no need for Britain, Australia or New Zealand to step in.
C. The British High Commission is meant for British nationals. Only if there are crew members on board with British nationality could the do something for that person, but not for those without a British passport. Let alone for the boat.
As you said the ball is in Fiji's court and they will figure out what they want to do with it.
Nice to see other knowledgeable seamen giving additional thoughts. I grew up on Chesapeake Bay. My step father taught me to operate our 21' inboard/outboard when I was 11. Helped my mother study and pass coast guard exam for pilot's license in 1956. Love boats and the ocean. Love this channel. Not only unique, but educational AND entertaining.🤗😎
Lol that is super not how the commonwealth works
UK will have provided the government of Fiji with relevant security service intelligence & would naturally cooperate if requested.
I would add it would greatly benefit the relationship between the UK & Fiji if they sign ownership of Amadea over to me for... reasons. 🤣
Never heard of this channel until your recent reports. Liked and subbed. Now you are the first I look for. Great job.
Superb video as usual! Gosh it gets very complex! Well done Mr E !
The sound was so good on this recording, it sounded like there were people walking behind me up the walkway and they were definitely travelling right to left!
I predicted that she would have ‘problems’ with Fiji when you first mentioned she was heading that way. A better option would have been the Solomon Islands given their political leanings at the moment. The correct pronunciation of Nadi was the second one.
Fiji is easily corrupted. Great place, great people and they are very pleased to make you happy especially if you leave a big tip.
Fascinating.
Wouldn't turning off your position beacon, not filing paper work, etc. void your yacht insurance?
Love your videos.
I think that only applies to the common riffraff boat owners. The super-rich don't have to follow any rules or laws.
@@JamesRook Or maybe they don't really care about insurance.
@@CCB249 They can't go in to most ports without insurance...according to this channel.
@@CCB249 No Insurance. You don't move the yacht, not even paddling with a spoon..
You can turn of AIS with permission fro your insurance company because you are in hostile waters. Wouldn't surprise me if the insurance company imposes conditions.
Not vessel related. What an amazing logo you have. Probably among the best I have seen. Three lines only and it is immediately clear what it is related to. Super job. Thanks for your insights into a world I will never be privy to.
With the amount of fuel they are after it is a good way to clear all the contaminated fuel out . Fiji is very well known for dodgy fuel. I used to work doing engine repairs for sailing yachts in Australia and New Zealand and the amount of yachts having engine problems due to fuel was crazy.
Well it would certainly be dodgy fuel if I sold it to them... be whistling away whilst quietly filling the tanks with 300,000 litres of sea water! At $2 / ltr to boot! "Oh, I'm so sorry. Please have the real owner fill out a complaint form"
Been living here 17 years. Never had a problem with dodgy fuel, diesel-unleaded- or zoom.
😕
Rather than saying "'regular' miles," you might consider using the term "statute miles" to differentiate from nautical miles.
Oh-arrr ye landlubber-miles.
Nautical miles when referring to seacraft and just miles or kilometres when referring to road traffic
it should be easy to establish ownership. just arrest the vessel. send the crew home and see who squeals the loudest. - humphrey bogart
Or wait who offers bribe money🤫
🤣😅😂🤟
Great reporting as usual. Keep up the good work👍
eSysman you are doing a great job. Please stay safe!
one of two things happened:
1. They fled the med wanting to refuel in fiji and didnt have time to deal with all paperwork 2 days before they left. so they hoped they would deal with paperwork during the 18 (?) day trip but fiji didnt alow it.
2. They had all paperwork sorted out and after landing in Fiji the US applied gentle pressure to Fiji
Fiji & many of the Pac Islands are under the hawk eye of Chayna
Another good reporting job. Keep up the good work.
Excellent report - your knowledge continues to shines through
You need to have a television series. Well spoken with excellent knowledge on yachts and boating in general would be a hit .
Thanks for the update. It sure is nice to see more countries stepping up to make sure the people most benefiting from Russian wealth are held accountable. I am sure the ownership is going to be insanely twisted. All the recent actions speak volumes that this vessel was running from sanctions. I am also wondering who is insuring and certifying this vessel.
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission…
Thank you for every informative video delivered in a knowledgeable form. I have learned quite a lot.
Sir, you are a wonderful and informative source of valid information.
Good job once again. Thank you very much.
The fourth option is: The USA or UK found out through security pipeline or 'eSysman', the probable port Amadeas was heading towards & requested the Fijian Gov't to hold/arrest/seize her until beneficial ownership was established.
This, I believe, is the most likely explanation.
Super yachts are going to be stacked ten high at the tip once this process is finished.
Be nice digs moored up somewhere equally nice when the billion & trillionaires are all just a memory
I have a feeling your channel helps with those yacht arrests. At least your predictions as to their trajectories appear pretty much spot on each time.
Absolutely - eSysman is getting live updates from ordinary people across the globe - Government authorities do not have access that proliferate of info themselves
Great information buddy keep up the good work
Thank you for this posting.
Thank you I have certainly enjoyed your videos and I learned a great deal every time
Mate! What kind of drone do you use for your footage?
He gets anonymous people sending him information, pics, etc.. Secret snitches. ☺
eSysman, I have had one of the worst days ever. I mean that. I saw this video was available just now and it gave me a tiny glimmer of joy. Thank you so much for these videos. I’ve learned so much about sailing and yachts from you.
Powerful video. I learned a lot. Thx👍
thanks for your work and updates
I think people don’t understand how much goes into these yachts and how they are the pride and joy of these billionaires. And people say it doesn’t hurt them. It absolutely does. Years go into the development of them. All gone in a moment. And rightfully so
it's like having your dream home designed and built over years, then it vanishes overnight because your boss shucks at his job
@@heybabycometobutthead or because you’ve been enabling your boss to be a murderous tyrant. :/
And funny enough it mostly Russian billionaires that happen to have a contact in putins government .
The "rightfully so" is your opinion. I have the exact opposite opinion.
Absolutely fascinating.
I love all the reporting you do. Stay safe. Careful of your words...not to me, but others..so lets get on with it!
Fiji diesel price as at April 2022 is 1.045 Euro. One of the reasons for the apparently comparatively cheap price is that normal road and other taxes are charged separately for road vehicles. Yes it's pronounced Nandi. (Fun consonant facts: In Fijian a D is voiced "nd" and a B is voiced "mb")
That’s per liter.
@@lookronjon Yes. Which the whole world uses. Oh apart from that other small portion.
Getting close to 200k subscribers, it’s compulsive viewing, keep up the good work!
Boom........when you know YOU know!!! Keep going as I'm sure you will have another great report for us tomorrow.
Doing great work thanks for the updates.
Very interesting again ,, you are great at breaking it down to let us understand the complexities of the legal stuff .Love your channel 👍👌
Yup.. spot on
Great channel and commentary. I am looking forward to following the Amadea drama.
If you have the time and stamina, I would like to hear a breakdown on how this is affecting the superyacht industry. It seems to me that all of the companies that are contracted to provide the management services must be questioning their positions, along with all of the intermediaries between the beneficial owners and the stated owners.
Expensive Business, you say!
C'mon guys.... get into the subscriptions... Let's get eSysman up to 200k...!! The lads doing a great job..
Amadea gave the Fijian government cause to detain them.
According to the Revenue and Customs site:
upon approval given to enter Fiji will need to proceed straight to Port Denarau
They failed to proceed to Denerau according to your information in the video.
Very good catch!
The plot thickens. 😋
@@philipmackin1025 I went and looked it up on the Fijian government sites.
To take a yacht there you need to submit the documents and then wait for approval before leaving port to go directly there. The Revenue and Customs site specifies the port of entry to be Denarau only.
@@gailhasler8435 If the Captain took them to the wrong port, yup.
If they left before given approval there is the error.
You started off by saying they had their AIS turned off so why do you think they will follow any other rules?
The US State Dept is super active in the South Pacific right now after the Chinese tried to get the Solomon Is sign off on a full military base. Nothing moves in the South Pacific unless Australia and the US approve it.
The US consulate in Nadi (pronounced Nandi) will have had a big hand in this arrest.
The threat of US sanctions on any Fiji official that assists this vessel is far too great to be bothered lifting a finger for them.
Nope, that boat is staying in Fiji for the next few months
What absolute BS "Nothing moves in the South Pacific unless Australia and the US approve it." There are plenty of instances where Pacific Nations have slapped (metaphorically) the US and Australia down because of their pressure over certain issues.
Nice job
Thanks for the update
Love this channel ❤️
Another awesome cliff hanger episode. You give fantastic unbiased opinions and knowledge. Thank you so much and have a very happy and blessed Easter. On another note. Think these powerful owners just MIGHT have enough influence to get their vessels into this port without going through proper channels?
Be safe and thanks again.
woo woo woo you rock ! this stuff is insane ...
Would be awesome to see the cost of superyachts, compared to commercial fishing, warships, and other types of ships. As always, thanks for doing such an incredible job covering all aspects of yachting news!
Thank you for the video!
Everyone with a super yacht should be in jail. Gluttony over humanity should be a crime.
Question please - will all the Yachts be sold to new owners? Scrapped? Sunk? For Coral reef’s? As much as I support "discomfort" for the Oligarchs these "arrests" and "seizure" are just a temporary slap to them. Only very long term "punishment" will deter or work in my opinion. Thank you. Great reporting!
@@katiedotson704 Katie. You are correct if they have been arrested or seized under intenational maritime law (and the enabling laws in each country).However my undetsyanding is that property can also be directly seized in relation to debt recovery (no different from other property under financial treaties/local laws) or directly seized under local laws that require proof of ownership. And if that proof is not provided in a particular period, it is auctioned off or kept by the government/agency as unclaimed property.
If the vessel's own can't pay for any number of things, creditors can place leans on the ships, which could lead to their being sold. The most likely scenario is the will sit at anchor and slowly rust or rot.
Great work, the plot is getting very interesting .
.
Police: "Who owns this yacht?"
Captain: "Um, somebody... but they're probably not Russian, maybe.
There owned by the red cross as hospitals now.
Great work.
Love your work
Another great video.
I’m thinking that there are seagull sound effects added to the video! Kind of how they add bird sounds to golf events. 🤣
Must be really frustrating owning a boat that needs fuel, during sanctions. Hehe
My Man - That was a question I've always had, What does it cost to refuel one of these super yachts. Thanks for that information - well done! The whole purpose of watching a video is to be educated and informed you've done that.