Russian oligarch arrives in Samui on 3.9 billion baht super yacht - Thai media laps it up but eyebrows raised elsewhere

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Cap: Cruise trip to Samui.....

 

Thai media Daily News were gushing about the visit of a Russian oligarch's super yacht to Koh Samui, southern Thailand. 

 

But in the rest of the world there was consternation about welcoming wealthy Russians amid world sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

 

All that was put aside for the Thai media who said that people in Samui and tourists were laughing (in a happy way) when they saw the super yacht Cloudbreak moored off Chaweng Beach.

 

It cost 3.9 billion baht and belongs to Alexander Svetakov, 54, a Russian property developer who runs Absolut Investments Group.

 

There were 13 passengers aboard and 6 crew and a helicopter on deck. There are six cabins including the master suite.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

It had been to Koh Phangan after arriving from Singapore at the start of July. 

 

It is 2,293 tons, 72 meters long and can cruise at 15 knots.

 

Mr Svetakov has 1.82 billion pounds sterling according to Forbes and owns two planes.

 

Weerayuth Chumphimon a van driver cooed about how big and beautiful the yacht was even at a distance as his passengers took holiday snaps. He said the tourism economy was picking up again and this was just another example. 

 

Others abroad were less amused to what they saw as the Thai authorities, and Thai media including English print media in Bangkok, cozy up to Russia's wealthy during the war in Europe.

 

One leading critic said that Svetakov had "evaded sanctions" and was an "unwelcome supporter of the Putin regime". 

 

It seems money talks when it comes to getting Thailand's tourism going again post pandemic, notes ASEAN NOW. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-18

 

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[RichardColeman]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

All that was put aside for the Thai media who said that people in Samui and tourists were laughing (in a happy way) when they saw the super yacht Cloudbreak moored off Chaweng Beach.

Yes , I'm sure the Ukranians here were really laughing their heads off

[SAFETY FIRST]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Russian oligarch's super yacht to Koh Samui, southern Thailand

Confiscate

Impound 

Seize 

All their assets 

 

Check all their belongings, tax them heavily. 

 

Chop, chop 

 

[steven100]

Good opportunity for a Ukrainian special force diver to practice his underwater battery drill technique. ????

[SAFETY FIRST]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

13 passengers aboard and 6 crew and a helicopter on deck. There are six cabins

Wow, 19 people with 6 cabins, I reckon there's some 3somes going on. ????

[Iamfalang]

The super rich.   Where did you money come from?  In many parts of the world, nobody cares.  If you have money, you are a GOD.   A living God.   

 

As 10,000 expats living on 20 baht noodle soup yell, "Life isn't fair!!"

 

No, it is not my good backpacker, expat, noodle drinker........no, it is not.

 

4 billion super yacht.   It's not like the war just started, and yet they roam free......

 

living the super rich lifestyle.....

 

OK, time to eat my noodle soup

[VocalNeal]

11 minutes ago, Iamfalang said:

In many parts of the world, nobody cares. 

Just like where I live. I don't care.

[Hamus Yaigh]

9 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Just like where I live. I don't care.

Curious as to the thought processes that cause you not to care about what Russia is doing now?

[VocalNeal]

1 minute ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Curious as to the thought processes that cause you not to care about what Russia is doing now?

I don't live there. no plans to go there, no plans to invest in rubles, et al. Add to that I cannot personally influence anything that is happening in most countries in the world. 

Other than possible adding to hypertension there is no point in even considering it. 

[KhunLA]

46 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Confiscate Impound Seize All their assets 

Check all their belongings, tax them heavily. 

Chop, chop 

Why, did he do something wrong.  Govts invade countries, not their citizens.

 

Did the world go after USA billionaire's assets when they invaded & occupied Nam, Iraq, Afghan.   I think not.  

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Curious as to the thought processes that cause you not to care about what Russia is doing now?

Why would we care ?  As if anyone cares.  

 

I care ... FREE DONBAS & LUHANSK from Ukraine oppression.

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

One leading critic said that Svetakov had "evaded sanctions" and was an "unwelcome supporter of the Putin regime".

Alexander Svetakov is close to Putin and been on the US official "oligarch list" for a long time. His yacht is named as one for seizure if docking in a supporting country. He's currently trying to sell his private Gulfstream G650 jet.

 

Still up to Thailand, they don't want major headlines and rock the boat yacht over this. I hope he enjoys his hols while Ukraine burns ????

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Why, did he do something wrong.  Govts invade countries, not their citizens.

 

Did the world go after USA billionaire's assets when they invaded & occupied Nam, Iraq, Afghan.   I think not.  

Yes he did something wrong 

 

Because of Putin and his motley crew I'm paying more for everything. 

 

I'm being inconvenieced bigtime. 

 

Why bring the USA into your comment?

I reckon there's a deeper agenda to your reply. ????

 

[PremiumLane]

1 hour ago, Iamfalang said:

The super rich.   Where did you money come from?

The workers

[KhunLA]

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yes he did something wrong 

 

Because of Putin and his motley crew I'm paying more for everything. 

 

I'm being inconvenieced bigtime. 

 

Are you renting one of his properties ?

Putin has nothing to do with the price gouging of the west & Thailand's oil / energy companies.  Or the conglomerates using it as an excuse to price gouge.

 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He said the tourism economy was picking up again and this was just another example.

Yeah! Now he gave TAT a new idea. Focus on quality tourism from rich oligarchs. That will fix it!

[VocalNeal]

One swallow does not a summer make

[KhunLA]

Everything wrong in the world is now Putin's fault ....

Everything wrong in the USA is now Trump's fault ...

 

MSM ... wins again.  Mind boggling.

 

Yet neither one has profited from any of their actions.  The profiteers are the real terrorist, so y'all might want to voice your anger toward them.

[toofarnorth]

28 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

One swallow does not a summer make

I thought it was ' One swallow does not a bar girl make '.

[VocalNeal]

14 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

I thought it was ' One swallow does not a bar girl make '.

Tacky????

[sammieuk1]

The army has been waiting to shoot something other than protesters for years here's your chance ????

[Bkk Brian]

 as the UN Secretary General stated:

 

Today’s report makes clear that the war’s impact on food security, energy and finance is systemic, severe and speeding up.  It is amplifying the consequences of the many other crises the world faces:  climate, COVID-19 and the severe global inequalities in the resources available for the recovery from the pandemic.

 

https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21314.doc.htm

[Jingthing]

If Thailand is really neutral on Putin's war crimes of choice at the very least they should eject such vessels from all Thai ports, da?

[mahtin]

https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/cloudbreak/photos/

 

Makes me (sea)sick.

[ballpoint]

This boat is currently based in Singapore and available for charter for 750,000 Euros per week, so I very much doubt if Alexander Svetakov is even on board.  It is also UK registered, flying the red ensign, (Svetakov continues to live, and run his business, in London), which is probably how it has escaped confiscation, so far.

 

 

CLOUDBREAK Yacht Charter Price - Abeking & Rasmussen Luxury Yacht Charter (yachtcharterfleet.com)

[Rimmer]

An off topic flame has been removed

[webfact]

Russian Billionaire’s Amazing Floating Chalet Docks in Thailand, the New Superyacht Haven

by Otilia Drăgan 

 

 

The parade of incredibly-luxurious pleasure craft owned by Russian oligarchs seems to be never ending. One of the latest one to show off its spectacular silhouette, disregarding sanctions and the on-going war, is an adventurous masterpiece that was built as a floating chalet for a billionaire sports enthusiast.

 

At 54, Alexander Svetakov is one of the youngest billionaires in Russia, with a remarkable track record in banking, real-estate, and business. He was also described as “fit and adventurous” in the Boat International story dedicated to his incredible luxury explorer, the Cloudbreak.

Earlier this year, Cloudbreak was one of the many superyachts that were officially banned from the Falmouth harbor, in the UK, a place where Svetakov’s yacht was known to have docked in the past. Almost six months later, it has emerged in an unexpected location, Thailand. The local media shared images of the massive, 237-footer (72 meters) arriving and docking in Samui this past weekend.

 

Full story: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/russian-billionaires-amazing-floating-chalet-docks-in-thailand-the-new-superyacht-haven-193785.html

 

-- AUTOEVOLUTION 2022-07-18

[kcpattaya]

Being a property developer is not that easy.
Become "filthy rich" like Alexander Svetakov is an achievement. Let him enjoy it!
Bravo!

[kotsak]

We all know how these Russian oligarchs made their fortunes..

 

 

 

[worgeordie]

The cheeky bugg..., Oligarch is flying what looks like the red ensign off

the rear of the ship, I thought the skull and crossbones would be more

appropriate .

regards worgeordie