The Ebony Shine was built by Feadship in 2008 as Ocean Victory for Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov. She is designed by De Voogt Naval Architects. At delivery she was the largest Feadship in terms of volume.
Specifications
The yacht is powered by Caterpillar engines. Her max speed is 17 knots. She has a range of more than 3000 nm.
Interior
The yacht can accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 22. The yacht’s interior is designed by Alberto Pinto Design. The idea was to create a nautical style with a ‘summer house’ atmosphere.
Her interior features include a large cinema, a large contra-flow swimming pool, a sauna and steam room and a fully equipped cinema. The owners stateroom includes two baths, two dressing rooms and an office.
Owner
The yacht’s owner is Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
In 2016 the yacht was sent to Feadship’s facilities in Makkum for an 8-month extensive refit. When she was planning to leave the Netherlands, the yacht was confiscated by the Dutch Authorities and was brought to the Dutch Navy Base in Den Helder, the Netherlands.
2016 Confiscation by Dutch Authorities
Dutch media reported that the yacht was confiscated on behalf of a Swiss public prosecutor, following a fraud investigation. It seems that the lifestyle of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue did not fit his official minister salary of US$ 3,500 per month.
Legal Procedure
The Government of Equatorial Guinea started a legal procedure in the Netherlands, at a Court in the Dutch town of Zwolle. The Ambassador of EG was present at the court.
The Government of EG demands that the yacht Ebony Shine should be released by Dutch authorities, claiming that the yacht is actually owned by the Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea and that the yacht is part of the country’s defense system.
The Dutch authorities replied that the yacht’s schedule included ‘diving and swimming’, which is a bit strange for a defense vessel. Also a document was found on board mentioning the ‘owners birthday’, which was actually the birthday of Teodoro Obiang Mangue.
The Government of EG claimed that both Obiang Mangue and the yacht should receive ‘immunity’.
The outcome of the Legal Procedure
On April 13th 2017 the Dutch court decided that the confiscation of Ebony Shine was done according to Dutch law and that all appropriate legal procedures were followed.
The court denied the release of the yacht. It was disclosed that the yacht is formally owned by a company Named DARA, based on the Marshall Islands. (And that the Ministry of Defense owns all shares in DARA.
In a second decision, the court ordered that all confiscated goods (taken from the yacht) should be transferred to the Swiss prosecutor. The prosecutor will use the goods for a criminal case of money laundering against Teodoro.
In February 2019 the yacht was released. After a Geneva prosecutor closed the Obiang case. He sold 25 luxury cars. Prosecutors said that Equatorial Guinea had agreed to pay Geneva authorities $1.3 million in “procedural costs.
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Yacht Charter
The boat is not available for yacht charter. And the yacht is not listed for sale.
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