Following the high profile sale of the superyacht Alfa Nero to US billionaire Eric Schmidt, the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority’s CEO Darwin Telemaque said the new powers given to his agency under a recent legal change could help prevent environmental damage caused by abandoned vessels, reports Observer.
Progressive legislation
The Port Authority (Amendment) Act came into force three months ago, empowering the government to seize the luxury vessel, which was believed to be owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev.
The amendment allows the Port Authority to take possession of a vessel if it has been seized, detained or abandoned. Certain criteria are listed including, if left in its current state the boat will deteriorate and could pose a threat to its safety or security or to other vessels in the harbour, and if it’s likely to pose a threat to human health and safety.
During a press briefing prior to Friday’s auction of the 267ft yacht, Telemaque noted that the legal change had been generally welcomed by the Port Authority, calling it “progressive legislation” for maritime management.
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Source: Observer
