EVERETT, Wash. — Tucked in among the Navy ships and state ferries in the Port of Everett, one boat hits a high water mark.
"I want it!" said Jay Turnquist, laughing as he peered through a set of binoculars.
The superyacht, Amadea, is 348 feet long and valued at approximately $325 million. It holds 16 guests and 36 crew members, and features a helipad, infinity pool, and multiple bars.
The ship had been in San Diego for the past year and is now being serviced by Everett Ship Repair which specializes in large watercraft.
"It's something you'd see in Monte Carlo," said Mich Lambert, who came to take photos along the Everett waterfront with her husband, Rich. "It sure is beautiful."
The boat belonged to a Russian oligarch named Suleyman Kerimov and was seized by authorities in Fiji at the behest of the U.S. government.
At the time, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement that: "This yacht seizure should tell every corrupt Russian oligarch that they cannot hide – not even in the remotest part of the world. We will use every means of enforcing the sanctions imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine."
The superyacht brings with it a certain amount on international intrigue.
Kerimov is accused by the United States of money laundering and corruption around the world. The seizure comes as America tightens sanctions against those closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the hope of pressuring Moscow into halting its war against Ukraine.
Reuters reports American taxpayers are spending more than $600,000 a month — $7 million a year — to maintain the superyacht.
Port of Everett officials are quick to point out no taxes dollars specifically from the Port of Everett or Snohomish County are being used for maintenance.
"I think of what that thing costs to maintain and I don't need that," smiled Rich Lambert, who owns a boat on Lake Stevens.
While federal officials want to auction the vessel off, another Russian man has come forward saying the boat actually belongs to him. American authorities said they believe he's lying for Kerimov.
Once work in Everett is complete, the boat is expected to make its way to Seattle. However, the reason why and for how long remains unclear.
A judge's decision on whether to allow the boat to be auctioned has not yet been made. The Department of Justice said any money made at auction would most likely go to aid in Ukraine's battle against Russia.