Gov’t Says Latest Alfa Nero Appeal is a Deliberate Attempt to Frustrate Sale

The government is confident that despite legal challenges, the Alfa Nero; which has been docked at the Falmoth Habour for over a year will be officially handed over to its buyer Google boss Eric Schmidt

The water continues to be turbulent for the sale competition of the Alfa Nero after attorneys filed an appeal challenging the recent court decision

Dr. David Dorsett confirmed to local news outlet NewsCo, that he filed the appeal this week.

He is representing Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov; the woman who claimed to be the daughter of US-sanctioned Russian Oligarch Adrey Guyvey. The latest appeal will in no doubt further delay the sale completion of the Super Yacht

In late June, High Court Judge Rene Williams rejected an application for an injunction to stop the sale of the luxury vessel which has been moored in Falmouth Habour for over 13 months.

The latest decision could further delay the competition of the sale, as Schmidt was expected to transfer US$67.6 million into the government account after he won the bid during the auction.

He said last week, through his attorneys that he was awaiting the completion of the court matter before he could transfer the funds to seal the deal.

But Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister Lionel Max Hurst told reporters at the Cabinet press conference earlier this morning that Antigua and Barbuda is now the owner of the Alfa Nero

He said those trying to stymie the sale are “nothing more than an attempt on their part to frustrate the process. But the court has seen through and at every stage dismissed their attempt at claiming leadership”.

Hurst believes that Yulia is simply trying to frustrate the process.

“That vessel has been in Antigua’s waters for more than one year, it wasn’t until we had the sanctions removed from the vessel that these owners made an appearance but we had given notice long before the 10-day notice when we were about to auction it.

“We had provided enough evidence prior to the 10-day notice that the vessel was in Antigua and Barbuda waters. The crew and others were in a state where their salaries were not paid to them and they left the island leaving the vessel in a dangerous state. We persuaded the captain and five others to remain behind. They have had notice of the vessel being in Antigua for more than a year”, Hurst said

Selling the Alfa Nero hasn’t been an easy task for the government as it encountered several roadblocks during along the way

On June 01, the US removed the Alfa Nero, from its sanctions list; one of the major hurdles for the government after it seized the multi-million-dollar floating island.

It was Ambassador to the United States Ronald Sanders who had been leading the effort in Washington to have the Alfa Nero removed from the List of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

This paved the way, making the Government of Antigua and Barbuda the lawful owners

The yacht, features a 12-meter infinity pool, a Jacuzzi, a spa, a beauty room, and a helipad.