The 75.75 metre superyacht Ebony Shine has been seized by Dutch authorities as part of an on-going investigation into her owner’s financial affairs, according to Swiss magazine L'Hebdo.
The steel hulled motor yacht left the Feadship yard in Makkum earlier this month after an extensive 12-month refit only to be intercepted by a police escort and boarded by officers at the first lock it came to.
L’Hebdo claims to have seen papers filed by the Swiss public prosecutor against owner Teodorin Obiang's lawyers as part of an ongoing corruption investigation. The vice president of Equatorial Guinea and son of the president, Obiang recently had 11 of his luxury cars seized as well.
Launched in 2009 as Ocean Victory, this four-deck displacement yacht was the largest Feadship by volume at the time, totalling 2,242GT. She was put up for sale in 2013 as her original owner prepared to trade up to the 140 metre Fincantieri superyacht Ocean Victory.
Her interiors were created by the late Alberto Pinto, with accommodation for 14 guests in seven double staterooms, all situated on the main deck, while the crew quarters allow for a staff of 24. She features a full spa with sauna, hammam and massage room, as well as a touch-and-go superyacht helipad.
A pair of Caterpillar 3516B diesel engines give her a top speed of 16.5 knots, while the total fuel capacity of 190,000 litres means a maximum cruising range of 5,500 nautical miles at 12 knots.
Other yachts in the Equatorial Guinea fleet include the 90 metre Lürssen explorer yacht Ice, which recently departed from Gibraltar, bound for Tangiers.