Yachting News

Royal Romance moves closer to court-ordered sale

YachtWay Editorial Team

Apr 13, 2026 — 1 min read

Courtesy of Feadship.

After years of legal uncertainty, the 92.5-metre Feadship superyacht Royal Romance is now moving toward a potential court-sanctioned sale, with the procedural framework finally taking shape. Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency has confirmed the case has entered the trial phase, with an indictment formally submitted and documentation transferred to Croatia, where the yacht remains under arrest. Preparations for valuation and a structured public sale are now underway.

Seized in 2022 amid sanctions tied to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Royal Romance quickly became one of the most high-profile superyachts caught in global asset freezes. What followed was a prolonged legal battle spanning jurisdictions, delaying multiple sale attempts and raising questions about enforcement frameworks in the superyacht sector. Earlier efforts to auction the vessel stalled after a Croatian court lifted the seizure due to procedural gaps, forcing authorities to restart the legal process.

Momentum has since returned. With the case now advancing through the courts and technical groundwork being re-established, authorities appear better positioned to execute a sale. The vessel has remained under tight control throughout, including relocation for maintenance under police supervision, underscoring both its value and the complexity of managing seized assets at this scale.

If completed, the sale of Royal Romance (previously valued around $200 million) would represent one of the most significant and unusual transactions in the modern superyacht market. Beyond the headline value, it highlights a growing reality: geopolitics, enforcement risk and jurisdictional complexity are now firmly part of the equation at the highest levels of yacht ownership.

YachtWay covers the deals, disruptions and market shifts shaping the global superyacht industry. Explore verified superyachts for sale worldwide on YachtWay.

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