Members of the crew from the Russian-owned luxury yacht Alfa Nero are finally getting paid a substantial six-figure sum, which is the money owed to them for the work they carried out while on board.

The announcement of the payment to Nautilus International staff comes after a court ruling in Antigua in December 2024 that led to the transfer of £890,000 to the Union's legal representatives in Antigua.

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60

CODE:

PROD-4797

1

928,200.00 €

+ −

Dracan 42

1

521,431.00 €

+ −

Bali CATSPACE MY

CODE:

PROD-18628

590,940.00 €

+ −

XO DFNDR A8

CODE:

XODFNDRA8

99,900.00 €

+ −

Nautilus has also requested a modification to the court order for an additional £331,000, aiming to ensure that some crew members receive an even larger sum. The Union believes that the court has miscalculated the wages owed to them.

Reportedly, Alfa Nero belonged to the fertilizer tycoon Andrey Guryev. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the luxury yacht was seized by Nautilus in Antigua after crew members reached out, claiming they had not been paid for their work.

In a ruling in December 2023, the High Court of Antigua established that the crew should be compensated based on the rates agreed upon in their contracts.

However, Nautilus clarifies that the exact timing of the payment was not specified in the ruling, as unpaid wages are typically settled through the sale of the vessel.

Alfa Nero was eventually sold to an undisclosed buyer for US$40 million in July 2024, paving the way for crew members to finally receive their outstanding wages.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda faced challenges when attempting to auction the yacht due to a claim made by Guryev's daughter, asserting that she was the rightful owner of the vessel and that its seizure and sale were therefore unlawful.

Nautilus' director of legal services, Charles Boyle, commented on the lengthy legal process, emphasizing the collaboration with the Union's yacht team. He mentioned that despite this milestone in the Alfa Nero case, they have filed an appeal against certain aspects of the December 2023 ruling, which stated that double pay and other entitlements were not recoverable. Boyle mentioned that they are awaiting a date for the appeal to be scheduled.

He concluded by stating, "Regrettably, the issue of unpaid wages continues to pose a serious challenge in this sector."