The 92.5-metre superyacht Royal Romance, originally delivered by Feadship in 2015, is set to undergo scheduled technical maintenance in the Croatian port of Trogir. The move was officially announced on 16 June by Ukraine’s National Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), which has overseen the vessel since its seizure in 2022.
According to ARMA, the yacht will be relocated under strict security protocols, including escort by a Croatian police vessel and a private maritime security firm. Once maintenance is complete, Royal Romance will be returned to its secure berth at a naval base in Split.
A High-Profile Asset Under Arrest
Royal Romance was seized on the basis that its alleged owner is a sanctioned Russian national. Although ARMA initially announced intentions to sell the yacht via auction, legal hurdles and jurisdictional complications have since delayed the process. In July 2024, Ukrainian officials disclosed that ARMA had temporarily lost the legal authority to sell the vessel following a ruling by the District Court of Split, which reportedly lifted the seizure due to lack of formal indictment.
Despite these setbacks, ARMA continues to assert its role as custodian of the asset. “The vessel remains under arrest and under the management of ARMA,” the agency reiterated, emphasizing that the position of both Ukraine and Croatia to keep the yacht in military custody remains unchanged.
Bureaucratic Delays and Political Tensions
The Royal Romance case has become a focal point of debate within Ukraine, where lawmakers and public officials argue that delays in the sale represent a missed financial opportunity. In February 2025, ARMA filed a formal complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), citing potential deliberate obstruction in the legal process.
“Royal Romance is valued at $200 million — clearly unnecessary money for the budget and the army,” said Yaroslav Zhelezniak, first deputy head of Ukraine’s parliamentary finance committee, in a public statement.
ARMA has vowed to continue pressing for the asset’s liquidation under Ukrainian law, reaffirming its commitment to justice and state accountability.
The Future of Royal Romance
The upcoming maintenance at Trogir is seen as both a practical step and a symbolic assertion of control, as authorities aim to preserve the asset’s value while legal proceedings continue. Once back in Split, ARMA plans to renew its efforts through the Prosecutor General’s Office to initiate a legal pathway for sale.
The Royal Romance case underscores the complexities of cross-border asset seizure, sanctions enforcement, and luxury vessel management amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
As ARMA noted in its latest release:
“Justice has long arms — even in the Adriatic Sea.”
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