nord yacht

• Impressions

The 141.6-metre Nord was designed with one idea in mind: she must cause strong emotions in every observer, not only through her sheer size, but with the design itself. Responsible for her stunning exterior and interior design is the Italian design studio Nuvolari-Lenard, who have given Nord her striking appearance with a bow design never before seen on a yacht. The 2021 delivered yacht Nord has implemented an exhaust after treatment system, which consists of the combination of a silencer with a selective catalytic reduction in the same casing, which can achieve a cleaning rate up to 97 % of nitrogen and additional reduction of acoustic noise – a Lürssen development.

Do you wish to talk about yacht design?

We would love to hear from you

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• Boat Pro Home
• Pricing Plan
• Superyacht Insight
• Product Features
• Premium Content
• Testimonials
• Global Order Book
• Tenders & Equipment

The best photos of 142m Lürssen superyacht Nord

The 142 metre Lürssen superyacht Nord is one of the largest and most secretive superyachts completed in 2021 . When she hit the water she joined the exclusive club of 100m+ superyachts and has swiftly become a favourite among yacht spotters and enthusiasts alike. We take a closer look at Lürssen's mega build...

Nord's helidecks

Nord is home to two helicopter landing pads allowing guests to come and go as they please in total privacy. The first can be found on the bridge deck aft with a retractable hangar that can concertina into the superstructure when not in use; a second larger helipad is positioned on the bow. 

Nord in the Indian Ocean

Nord has already racked up some serious mileage since her delivery in Feburary 2021. She departed Gibraltar in April and headed straight to the Caribbean to catch the last of the winter cruising season. After a brief stay back at the Lürssen shipyard she spent summer cruising the Mediterranean before heading down through the Suez Canal and into the Indian Ocean.

If her champagne-tinted hull wasn't enough to make this vessel stand out, its nameplate certainly makes sure people know Nord is in town. Its unusual flared bow starts to square off as it meets the foredeck, which allows for a nameplate to be emblazoned across the front (and it even lights up at night).

Nord on the move

Nord was pictured here on sea trials under her build name Project Opus. The North Sea is a rite of passage for superyachts leaving the Lürssen shipyard and Nord was no exception.

Designed by Italian design studio Nuvolari Lenard , Nord features a total of six decks, which can all be seen clearly here. Speaking about the superyacht, studio co-founder Dan Lenard previously described Nord as "a warship wearing a tuxedo". The yacht is specifically intended for long-range cruising and global exploration.

Nord at dusk

In some lights, Nord's distinct hull colour seems to turn to gold with turquoise LEDs illuminating her nameplates and accents of the superstructure. 

Nord at night

Nord's aft name plate lights up as night falls, while bright lighting illuminates the decks. One of Nord's fleet of tenders, the largest of which measures 15 metres, can also be seen here moored to the stern of the yacht. 

Sponsored listings

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

Nord Specifications

• Model Custom
• Hull Colour -
• Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts
• Exterior Designer Nuvolari & Lenard
• Interior Designer Nuvolari & Lenard
• Length Overall 142.0m
• Length at Waterline -
• Draft (min) -
• Draft (max) -
• Gross Tonnage -
• Cabins Total -
• Hull Configuration -
• Hull Material Steel
• Superstructure -
• Deck Material -
• Fuel Type -
• Manufacturer -
• Total Power -
• Propulsion -
• Max Speed -
• Cruising Speed -
• Fuel Capacity -
• Water Capacity -
• Generator -
• Stabilizers -
• Thrusters -
• Amenities -
• Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Exterior Designer Nuvolari & Lenard No profile available
• Interior Designer Nuvolari & Lenard No profile available

Yacht Specs

Other lurssen yachts, related news.

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

PHI Yacht – Royal Huisman’s $45 Million Superyacht

• Zuretti Interior Design
• Zuretti Interior
• Zuccon International Project
• Ziyad al Manaseer
• Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
• Yuriy Kosiuk
• Yuri Milner
• Yersin Yacht

• Superyachts
• Most Popular

Yacht NORD – Elite $500M Superyacht

Owned by Russian billionaire businessman, yacht NORD is the tenth biggest yacht in the world.

The annual running costs are an incredible $40 Million per year due to her massive 142-meter length.

Yacht NORD interior

The interior of the NORD yacht was developed by Nuvolari Lenard, an Italian yacht designer who also worked on the exterior of the impressive vessel.

Twenty-four guests can be accommodated in twelve luxurious cabins, including a spacious owner’s suite. There is additional space below the deck for up to 40 crew members.

Although exact details of the interior of NORD remain private and unknown to the public, the yacht is said to have two elevators, a large gym, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a cinema.

Lenard and his design studio are known for their upscale and aesthetically pleasing layouts, which are usually kept in earth tones and natural colors.

The Italian designer also worked on Mordashov’s smaller yacht, the LADY M, where he designed both the interior and exterior.

NORD specifications

The NORD yacht has a total length of 142 meters (465.1 ft). Her beam is 19.5 meters (64 ft) long, and her draft measures 5.4 meters (17.9).

The massive yacht weighs 9,259 tons. Her four MTU engines allow her to reach top speeds of 25 knots, although her average cruising speed lies closer to 20 knots.

NORD exterior

The exterior of the NORD yacht was designed by Nuvolari Lenard and his experienced Italian design studio which is considered one of the most exclusive in the world.

The yacht is white with dark blue elements on the top decks, creating a streamlined effect and making the vessel appear even more elegant.

She has two separate helipads, one of which even has a collapsible helicopter hangar that can store smaller aircraft.

On the aft of the yacht, there is a sizeable swimming pool and beach club. NORD has a high-quality steel hull and impressive aluminum superstructure. 

The owner purchased NORD for a price of US $500 million in 2021. The yacht is estimated to incur running costs of US $40 to 50 million annually.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Alexei Mordashov
• Nuvolari Lenard

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

TANGO Yacht – Immaculate $120 Million Superyacht

AMATASIA Yacht – Gorgeous $200M Superyacht

SOARING Yacht – Grandiose $120M Superyacht

JOY ME Yacht – Awesome Superyacht

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3568
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

• Yacht Charter Fleet

EXCLUSIVE: 142m Lurssen superyacht NORD, formerly 'Project Opus', delivered

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on X
• Share via Email

By Katie Scott   19 February 2021

Lurssen’s 142m/466ft motor yacht NORD , formerly known as Project Opus, has successfully been delivered to her owner. She set off from the German yard this morning on her maiden voyage to Gibraltar. 

Initially known as 'Project Redwood' and then 'Project Opus', megayacht NORD was constructed at the Lurssen  Bremen shipyard and boasts no less than 20 cabins for up to 36 guests.

Officially launched in July 2020, NORD spans over six decks and is one of the largest motor yachts delivered in 2021.

First announced in December 2015, the name NORD was exclusively revealed by YachtCharterFleet and was initially proposed to be a 139m Project. She has since been extended by an additional three metres, allowing for extra amenities onboard.

Sporting immaculate design from Italian studio Nuvolari & Lenard, who previously collaborated with Lurssen on the award-winning 88m/289ft  superyacht QUATTROELLE , the yacht's profile is particularly striking.

One of the most iconic components of her exterior is the subtle nod to the automobile industry; NORD is the first yacht to have her nameplate on the bow, much like a car grill.

NORD showcases her capacious volume of 9,250GT by providing extensive relaxation and lounging areas, as well as indulgent social environments for unforgettable parties.

Featuring a displacement steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks, NORD has been built in compliance to Lloyds Register PYC classification society rules.

First seen on the move in October 2018, before becoming Project Opus in 2019, she joins the Top 10 of the World's longest yachts alongside 180m (592.7ft) superyacht AZZAM and 156m (511.8ft) DILBAR . 

Indicating several unique features onboard the latest Lurssen megayacht, dual helipads, on-deck swimming pools and Jacuzzis are just some key features listed for NORD.

A spacious sports and diving centre accompany storage for tenders up to 15m, and a custom hangar slides in to place within the superstructure when not in use. 

It is currently unknown whether NORD is to be available for  superyacht charters .

If you are interested in taking a Lurssen megayacht for your next charter vacation you can view and compare all Lurssen charter yachts .

Stand-out Lurssen yachts for charter:

73m Lurssen 2006 / 2020

90m Lurssen 2010 / 2024

85m Lurssen 2013 / 2022

95m Lurssen 2014

136m Lurssen 2019

95m Lurssen 2019

• READ MORE ABOUT:
• Nuvolari & Lenard
• Nuvolari Lenard

RELATED STORIES

Previous Post

MEDYS 2021 charter show in Greece cancelled

First look at Project Solaris prior to its launch

EDITOR'S PICK

Latest News

21 March 2024

20 March 2024

19 March 2024

• See All News

Yacht Reviews

• See All Reviews

Charter Yacht of the week

Join our newsletter

Useful yacht charter news, latest yachts and expert advice, sent out every fortnight.

Please enter a valid e-mail

Thanks for subscribing

Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3568 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

136m | Lurssen

from $4,345,000 p/week ♦︎

115m | Lurssen

from $2,822,000 p/week ♦︎

85m | Golden Yachts

from $978,000 p/week ♦︎

88m | Golden Yachts

from $1,195,000 p/week ♦︎

84m | Feadship

from $1,085,000 p/week ♦︎

93m | Feadship

from $1,521,000 p/week ♦︎

Maltese Falcon

88m | Perini Navi

from $490,000 p/week

122m | Lurssen

from $3,000,000 p/week

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

A rare look inside Nord, the $500 million megayacht of Russia’s richest man Alexei Mordashov. The 464 feet long tuxedo donning warship has palatial interiors. For extra fun, its garage has a hovercraft, a deep-diving submarine, ATV’s, a few Toyota Land Cruisers, and more.

The video shows us first-hand the elegance and enormousness of a megayacht in the truest sense of the term. From seemingly unending corridors to well-appointed interiors and the most insane tender garage, the Nord is a massive ship that’s impressive from the word go.

You may also like

Not a surveillance drone or a satellite, but a tourist on a sea-plane spotted sanctioned Russian oligarch’s $500 million megayacht in the Maldives. The 9,500-ton vessel was to go to Cape Town and had turned off its location transponders for 21 days.

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has treated himself to the world’s most expensive private jet – A 248 seater, $300 million Boeing 787 Dreamliner that has been customized to a lavish 50 seater.

While an ambitious teenager is still tracking his G650ER business jet. Elon Musk has ordered a new $78 million Gulfstream G700 private jet. With it, the billionaire will be able to shuttle between his gigafactories at a speed of Mach 0.925 in a spacious whisper-quiet cabin.

Microsoft billionaire’s $60 million superyacht is a warship on vacation. Known as the father of MS Word and Excel, Charles Simonyi once worked as a night watchman in a computer lab. His yacht has a helipad and when cruising the massive ship is quieter than a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Jeff Bezos swooned his lady love Lauren Sanchez by proposing to her on his $500 million megayacht Koru with an enormous diamond engagement ring. The Amazon founder popped the question as a man worth $138 billion would.

Heesen’s most powerful superyacht Yet, Ultra G, is great for the sea-faring billionaire and his beast.

Steve Jobs was designing a personal superyacht with Feadship

Designed for a sci-fi loving wealthy enthusiast – This 276 feet long helium-powered flying superyacht has ultra-luxurious interiors and even a swimming pool.

Capri Sun billionaire was on his 235-foot-long superyacht when it crashed not once but twice in spite of it being controlled by 12 onboard computers. The $82 million vessel that boasts a swimming pool, helipad, and even a hospital had almost destroyed the dock in Saint Maarten.

• Virginia Beach
• History & facts
• Famous people
• Famous landmarks
• AI interviews
• Science & Nature
• Tech & Business

Discover something new everyday

Famous places

• Food & Drinks
• Tech & Business

Top 20 Facts about the City of Moscow

Moscow Metro- by A.Savin - Wikimedia Commons

Read Next →

18 things you probably didn’t know about Sacre-Coeur basilica in Paris

Best Theme Parks and Attractions in and Around Paris

The Best Way to Visit the Paris Catacombs

20 facts about the city of moscow, 1. moscow’s oldest surviving building is more than 550 years old.

Assumption Cathedral – Wikimedia Commons

2. The world’s largest medieval fortress is found in Moscow

Moscow Kremlin on foreground- by Pavel Kazachkov- Wikimedia Commons

3. Moscow hosts Russia’s largest zoo

Moscow Zoo entrance- by A.Savin – Wikimedia Commons

4. Trains with the most frequency in the world are found in Moscow

Moscow Metro- by A.Savin – Wikimedia Commons

 5. The City of Moscow hosts the World’s second-largest library

Russian State Library main building interior- by A.Savin – Wikimedia Commons

6. The City of Moscow is home of the Babushka doll

Babushka dolls variety- by Ph. Saget – Wikimedia Commons

7. The City of Moscow hosts the world’s largest university building

Moscow State University- by Dmitry A. Mottl- Wikimedia Commons

8. The City of Moscow hosts one of the largest urban parks in the world

Visitor at Izmailovo Park- by Kristy2906 -Wikimedia Commons

9. Europe’s largest botanical garden is found in Moscow

Moscow’s Botanical Garden- by AlixSaz- Wikimedia Commons

10. The City of Moscow boasts 7 identical skyscrapers

Seven Sisters side by side pictures- by okruz- Wikimedia Commons

11. The City of Moscow FBI buildings were once torture chambers

Peasants tortured by Saltykova- by P. V. Kurdyumov – Wikimedia Commons

12. The first man in space was buried in Moscow

Yuri Gagrin- by P. V. Kurdyumov- Wikimedia Commons

13. Victory Obelisk is Moscow’s highest Monument

Victory Obelisk- by GAlexandrova- Wikimedia Commons

14. Moscow has an underground river

15. moscow’s stray dogs can navigate the metro, 16. lenin’s corpse is preserved in a mausoleum in moscow’s red square.

Lenin Mausoleum at the Red Square- by NVO- Wikimedia Commons

17. The largest bell in the world is found in the City of Moscow

Tsar Bell- by W. Bulach- Wikimedia Commons

18. The City of Moscow has billionaire residents

19. old moscow was segregated, 20. the city of moscow and england share an insignia.

St. George on Horseback slaying the dragon- by W. Bulach- Wikimedia Commons

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !

These are  Amazon’s best-selling  travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

• The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –  Learn more here
• Fodor’s Paris 2024 –  Learn more here

Travel Gear

• Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –  Learn more here
• Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –  Learn more here
• Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –  Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.

Christine M

Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel.

Whether you want to learn the history of a city, or you simply need a recommendation for your next meal, Discover Walks Team offers an ever-growing travel encyclopaedia.

For local insights and insider’s travel tips that you won’t find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Happy travels!

Hello & Welcome

Popular Articles

Top 20 Streets to See in Paris

Paris in two days

Top 15 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower

The Best Way to Visit Paris Museums

Top 15 Fashion Stores in Le Marais

Visit europe with discover walks.

• Paris walking tours
• Montmartre walking tour
• Lisbon walking tours
• Prague walking tours
• Barcelona walking tours
• Private tours in Europe
• Privacy policy

© 2024 Charing Cross Corporation

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

Who Really Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipeline?

New clues keep surfacing, and the most recent appear to implicate ukraine..

On September 26, 2022, a series of deep-sea explosions rocked the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipelines along the bottom of the Baltic Sea near the Danish island of Bornholm. The bombings severed three of the Nord Stream project’s four underwater pipelines, which had been built to transport a direct supply of natural gas from Russia to customers in Western Europe — though none was in operation at the time of the bombing thanks to tensions over the war in Ukraine . More than eight months later, multiple countries continue to conduct their own investigations into the sabotage, and while the mystery of who targeted the pipelines remains unsolved, there are growing indications that Ukraine was behind the sabotage. Below is what we know about the prime suspects and latest developments.

Ukraine allegedly planned covert attack on Nord Stream, U.S. warned it not to

Three months before the bombing of the pipeline, the U.S. was informed by a European intelligence service that Ukraine had planned to use a small team of divers to conduct a covert attack on Nord Stream, according to U.S. intelligence documents shared online by Jack Teixeira , the National Guard airman accused of leaking U.S. intelligence secrets on Discord chat servers. The Wall Street Journal reports that the CIA had been tipped off about the plan by Dutch military intelligence and that in June 2022, the U.S. warned Ukraine not to target the pipelines. The CIA later told allies the plan appeared to have been called off, but per the Journal , that conclusion might have been premature:

Weeks later, in August, the CIA informed at least seven different NATO allies that Ukraine no longer appeared to be plotting to sabotage the pipelines and that the threat had diminished, European officials said. Those officials now believe Ukraine hadn’t canceled the original plan but had modified it, selecting a new point of departure and tapping an alternative military officer to lead it.

Ukraine has repeatedly denied any involvement in the bombing. “I believe that our military and our intelligence did not do it, and when anyone claims the opposite, I would like them to show us the evidence,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a recent Bild interview . Per the Washington Post , the would-be saboteurs involved in the initial Ukrainian plot that was discussed in the leaked U.S. intelligence documents planned to keep Zelenskyy out of the loop so he would have plausible deniability.

The saboteurs might have been based in Poland

According to a June 10 Wall Street Journal report , German investigators have been examining evidence that a Ukrainian sabotage team they suspect was responsible for the bombing used Poland as a base of operations:

The probe by Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office is examining why the yacht they believe was used to carry out the operation journeyed into Polish waters. Other findings suggest Poland was a hub for the logistics and financing of  last September’s undersea sabotage attack  that severed the strongest bond tying Berlin to Moscow. Poland, which is conducting its own inquiry, has struggled for months to learn what Germany is investigating.

German officials told the Journal they have found no evidence, at least not yet, that the Polish government was aware of the operation. The investigation has uncovered a lot more about the movements of the sailing yacht they believe the saboteurs used, however:

German investigators have fully reconstructed the entire two-week long voyage of the Andromeda — the 50-foot white pleasure yacht suspected of being involved in one of the biggest acts of sabotage on the continent since World War II — and pinpointed that it deviated from its target to venture into Polish waters. The previously unreported findings were pieced together with data from the Andromeda ’s radio and navigation equipment, as well as satellite and mobile phones and Gmail accounts used by the culprits — and DNA samples left aboard, which Germany has tried to match to at least one Ukrainian soldier … German investigators say they are also looking into why the yacht was rented with the help of a travel agency based in Warsaw that appears to be part of a network of Ukrainian-owned front companies with suspected links to Ukrainian intelligence, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The multiple-vessel theory

The Washington Post reported on April 3 that German law-enforcement officials believed the still-unknown saboteurs might have used multiple vessels to carry out their operation. German investigators’ earlier theory was that a small team of perpetrators used a rented 50-foot sailboat, the Andromeda , to plant explosives on the two pipelines. But as their investigation progressed, they began to suspect the boat might have been used as a decoy, and U.S. and European officials are also now skeptical that the Andromeda played a key role. One major reason for the doubt is the craft’s size and capabilities, per the Post :

Experts noted that while it was theoretically possible to place the explosives on the pipeline by hand, even skilled divers would be challenged submerging more than 200 feet to the seabed and slowly rising to the surface to allow time for their bodies to decompress. Such an operation would have taken multiple dives, exposing the Andromeda to detection from nearby ships. The mission would have been easier to hide and pull off using remotely piloted underwater vehicles or small submarines, said diving and salvage experts who have worked in the area of the explosion, which features rough seas and heavy shipping traffic.

Also according to the Post , investigators have confirmed that traces of military-grade explosives found during a search of the Andromeda in January matched the explosive used on the pipelines — but that the evidence might have been planted aboard the boat. Some investigators also doubt that a team skilled enough to blow up the pipelines while evading detection would be sloppy enough to leave that evidence behind, while others believe it was possible they were indeed that careless.

In early March, The Wall Street Journal reported that several large questions remained unanswered regarding the possible use of the Andromeda:

A key operational question investigators are looking into is whether the small boat could have carried the explosives and other supplies needed and whether the six people known to have been aboard would have been enough to carry out the attack, the German government official said. Another possibility is that the boat was part of a larger operation. They are also asking whether the mission was state-sponsored or a private effort, the official added.

It appears those concerns were justified. Investigators reportedly came to focus on the Andromeda after getting a tip from a western intelligence service, then ultimately theorized that a team of six people — five men and one woman — carried out the sabotage using the yacht, which had been hired by a Polish-registered company investigators believe was controlled by a wealthy Ukrainian. The team apparently used forged passports and embarked in the rented yacht on September 6 from the German port city of Rostock. The yacht later docked at a harbor without nighttime surveillance cameras in Wiek on the German island of Rügen, then visited the tiny Danish island Christiansø, which is very close to the site of the pipeline bombings.

German officials have publicly warned against forming conclusions based on the details revealed in media reports.

What is the mysterious object?

Denmark has reportedly found , and is in the process of salvaging, a mysterious object next to one of the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The Switzerland-based pipeline operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, has agreed to a request from Danish authorities to help identify it — though Denmark has already said the object may be a maritime smoke buoy, Bloomberg reported on March 26.

Was it some pro-Ukraine group?

In early March, the New York Times reported that U.S. officials had recently seen new intelligence suggesting that a pro-Ukraine but not necessarily Ukraine-backed group was behind the sabotage. According to the Times , the unnamed U.S. officials who have reviewed the intelligence said the group was likely made up of Ukrainian and/or Russian nationals who were opponents of Russian president Vladimir Putin but there was no evidence of direct links between the saboteurs and Ukraine’s leadership. (Ukraine has repeatedly denied any involvement in the bombings.) The divers in the saboteur group were not currently working for military or intelligence services, but they might have been trained by them in the past, according to the intelligence.

The Times also reported that “U.S. officials who have been briefed on the intelligence are divided about how much weight to put on the new information” but are now more optimistic that European and U.S. intelligence agencies will be able to get to the bottom of what happened.

A Washington Post report on the intelligence added that “a senior western security official said governments investigating the bombings uncovered evidence that pro-Ukraine individuals or entities discussed the possibility of carrying out an attack on the Nord Stream pipelines before the explosions.”

What about a false-flag operation?

U.S. and German officials have continued to emphasize that it remains possible the sabotage was disguised to look as if it were perpetrated by someone else. Ukrainian officials have stressed this possibility as well — naming Russia as the likely sponsor — but no evidence has been put forward to support the theory. If it had been a false flag, it’s conceivable any government could have been behind it.

Why not Russia?

After the sabotage, Poland and Ukraine immediately fingered Russia as the culprit, and both the U.S. and other NATO allies speculated as much themselves. U.S. and European intelligence agencies have reportedly been unable to find any conclusive evidence of Russia’s involvement, however. It also remains unclear what Russia would have had to gain from disabling its own pipeline, which it helped build and had already shut off.

Or maybe it was the United States all along?

Amid Russia’s buildup on the Ukrainian border in early February of last year, President Biden warned that “If Russia invades … again, then there will no longer be Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.” Some have interpreted that statement as a kind of advance admission of guilt, including American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh , who last month published a report on his Substack alleging the U.S. had conducted a covert strike on the pipelines. Hersh’s supposed bombshell, which was quickly endorsed by Kremlin officials and Russian state media, primarily relied on what appeared to be a single unnamed source who, Hersh wrote, had “direct knowledge of the operational planning” for the sabotage. The White House has rejected his post as “complete fiction,” and some members of the open-source intelligence community have detailed numerous holes in Hersh’s assertions.

The Intercept’s Jeremy Scahill offered a more open-minded reading of the allegations, noting that Hersh might have screwed up the facts but not the premise. Scahill points out that the U.S. has authorized and then lied about numerous covert actions throughout its history and that recent disclosures to the media about intelligence pointing to Ukrainian partisans may be an example of “narrative washing.” At this point, however, there is no evidence linking the U.S. to the sabotage.

• foreign interests
• unsolved mysteries
• nordstream pipeline
• war in ukraine

Most Viewed Stories

• Inside the Craziest College-Admissions Season Ever
• Why Won’t Rich Republicans Loan Money to Upstanding Businessman Donald Trump?
• Kate Middleton Was Spotted in Public, With Video to Prove It
• How Screwed Is Trump?
• The Eric Adams Smash-and-Grab

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

• Inside the Craziest College-Admissions Season Ever By Jeffrey Selingo
• Why Won’t Rich Republicans Loan Money to Upstanding Businessman Donald Trump? By Jonathan Chait
• Kate Middleton Was Spotted in Public, With Video to Prove It By Margaret Hartmann
• How Screwed Is Trump? By Kevin T. Dugan
• The Eric Adams Smash-and-Grab By David Freedlander

What is your email?

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.