Mayor of Trieste protests: oligarch Putin's yacht costs the city millions.

Superyacht worth £500 million sparks outrage over massive maintenance costs

According to The Sun: The superyacht named 'A', previously owned by one of Putin's oligarchs, has sparked outrage over its maintenance costs.

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This enormous yacht, previously owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, has been docked in Trieste for over three years since its confiscation in March 2022.

Mayor Roberto Dipiazza expressed his concerns about the high maintenance costs of the yacht, which have reached £24 million.

This amount exceeds the budget for other important city sectors, such as the famous trams, for which about £750,000 has been allocated annually.

The mayor emphasized the need to find a funding source for the yacht's expenses.

'A' requires constant security, a skeletal crew, insurance, and fuel, in addition to docking costs, which is where the money goes.

The yacht 'A' has three masts that are taller than the Big Ben tower, and its dimensions allow it to be classified as a medium cargo vessel.

The yacht features eight decks, a helipad, an underwater viewing room, and a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system.

'A' has been in Trieste for over three years.

The yacht's digital control system allows the crew to raise and lower sails and anchors with just a swipe on a screen.

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Andrey Melnichenko has ranked among the wealthiest individuals globally, with a net worth exceeding $15 billion, earned from the mining industry.

He is therefore involved in economic sectors that provide a significant source of income for the government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine.

All assets of oligarchs linked to Putin were confiscated in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. It is known that Melnichenko planned a meeting with Putin shortly before the yacht was seized.

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The authorities are responsible for keeping the yacht in proper condition, which explains the significant costs of its maintenance.

Rex Features An investigation into the maintenance expenses of yacht 'A' has raised concerns among the residents of Trieste. The citizens are worried that limited funding from the budget for social projects may lead to increased taxes or cuts in essential services that citizens need. In the context of economic instability, this situation becomes even more pertinent.