The legal battle over the 156-metre-long mega-yacht “Dilbar” continues. The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has lodged an appeal against a ruling by the Frankfurt Administrative Court.
In the court’s view, the authorities had not provided sufficient evidence that the vessel belonged to or was controlled by a person on the European Union’s sanctions list. Contrary to some oversimplified accounts, however, the court did not thereby make a definitive determination as to who owned the yacht.
For the Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the decision nevertheless marked another legal victory, following the discontinuation of preliminary investigations against him in December 2025 in return for the payment of a fine.
The ruling also initially brought relief to the Lürssen shipyard. In the legal dispute with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle, BAFA), the shipyard had demanded confirmation that the yacht did not have to be treated as a frozen economic resource within the meaning of EU sanctions regulations. The Administrative Court ordered the BAFA to make a corresponding determination, as, in the court’s view, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the vessel was owned or controlled by a sanctioned individual.
Legal tug-of-war over the “Dilbar” enters the next round
However, the legal tug-of-war over the “Dilbar” is now entering the next round. The BAFA has lodged an appeal against the lower court’s ruling with the Hessian Administrative Court of Appeal, as reported by the German newspaper “Weser-Kurier” in Bremen.
In April 2022, the “Dilbar“ was frozen as an economic resource as a result of EU sanctions. This meant the yacht was no longer permitted to be moved within the EU. The freezing of assets does not constitute a deprivation of ownership. The owner retains the vessel but may no longer dispose of it freely until the measure is lifted.
At the time, the yacht was moored at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg for maintenance work. In September 2022, it was towed to Bremen-Nord under official supervision.
Lürssen has reacted with bewilderment to the BAFA’s appeal and the resulting prolongation of the proceedings. According to a shipyard spokesperson, this prolongs the legal uncertainty – a situation that is untenable for a family-run, medium-sized enterprise. The shipyard, which delivered the vessel in 2016, is facing considerable logistical problems.
The “Dilbar“ is currently stored in the large covered floating dock 10 at Lürssen’s Berne site. As a result, the dock has not been available for other projects for several years. Furthermore, according to the shipyard, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain adequate insurance cover for the existing liability risks.
Furthermore, Lürssen must ensure the regular upkeep and maintenance of the vessel, as a yacht of this size cannot simply be laid up. Among other things, this requires ongoing technical support and preservation, the regular operation of on-board systems, as well as corrosion protection, climate control, fire protection and the permanent securing of the vessel. This ties up the shipyard’s staff and capacity. The “Weser-Kurier“ did not receive a current statement from BAFA. The authority does not, as a matter of principle, comment on ongoing proceedings.
One of the world’s largest yachts
The mega-yacht, built under the project name “Omar“ at Lürssen in northern Bremen, is one of the world’s largest yachts with a gross tonnage of 15,917 GT. It features extensive entertainment and leisure facilities. These include a 25-metre-long swimming pool with a capacity of 180 m³ of water. Upon delivery, Lürssen described it as the largest pool ever installed on a yacht.
The exterior design, featuring a classic silhouette, a light ivory-coloured hull and bronze-coloured accents, was created by Espen Øino International. The interior was designed by Winch Design. The yacht’s facilities include two helipads, designed to accommodate an Airbus H175 helicopter. There are 20 cabins available for up to 36 guests. (CE)
