Russian billionaire businessman, Andrey Guryev, will be given ten days to claim his superyacht named Alfa Nero, which has been moored in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbor for more than a year, before the government proceeds with plans to have it auctioned.

Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin reported that a notice to the newspapers and other media will be published for a period of ten days, notifying of the sale of the Alpha Nero Vessel to satisfy the requirements under the law for a forced sale.

“If the owner fails to claim the vessel within that period, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, having declared the vessel a hazard to shipping and to the harbor where it is moored, will sell it to the highest bidder,” according to Information Minister Melford Nicholas.

The vessel has been in Antiguan waters for more than a year and has remained in the same position ever since.

Its staff has not been paid and neither has the provider of its fuel

He told a press conference this morning that according to reports, the vessel seems to have been abandoned.

“This particular yacht, we had undertaken some research many, many months ago to determine the beneficial owners of this particular yacht, and it seemed to have been abandoned. We were not able to get to a definitive position with that. And the Government has latterly moved towards seeking to take control of the vessel and sell it on the open market,” Nicholas added.

Nicholas said the government is moving based on international treaties.

In August last year, the vessel was searched by local authorities after a request from the US to search it, seize relevant material, and question its crew.

Reports are that both the vessel and its owner are on sanctions lists issued by the US, the UK and the European Union (EU).