Philippines says Russian yacht, cruise ships ferried seafarers out of Gulf

Published April 28, 2026 Updated April 28, 2026 08:18pm

A Russian super-yacht trapped in the Gulf by the Middle East war carried stranded Filipino seafarers out through the perilous Strait of Hormuz, AFP reports citing the Philippine government.

The Russia-flagged Nord, a 142-metre-long yacht reportedly linked to the Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov, passed the strait on Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) says in a statement.

On board the yacht and a bulk cargo ship that also passed that day “were 36 Filipino seafarers, bringing the total Filipino crew of vessels out of the Strait to close to 1,200”, it adds.

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