Vladimir Putin’s $733 million mega yacht blocked from leaving marina in Italy as authorities probe links

A mysterious superyacht in a town on Italy’s Tuscan coast, believed to be owned by Vladimir Putin, is now under investigation for its links. See the pictures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s $733 million mega yacht has been trapped behind gates in a marina in Italy after Italian authorities came under huge pressure to seize it.

The 459ft luxury ship was revealed by The Sun while “men in dark suits” probed links to Putin, with pictures showing the opulent interiors of his floating mansion.

Scheherazade is currently docked in Marina di Carrara in western Italy with huge metal gates blocking it from leaving, while other moored vessels pin it in on either side.

However, pressure is mounting on Italy to seize and sell the ship to benefit Ukrainians while Putin rains terror on their innocent civilians.

It is believed the British captain of the ship, Guy Bennett-Pearce, is staying on-board.

The superyacht 'Scheherazade', which has been linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Getty Images

On Wednesday night, lights were on the fifth deck of the mega yacht as a small crew remained hidden from view inside.

Italian investigators are urgently looking into the ship’s ownership and say Mr Bennett-Pearce, 43, is fully co-operating.

The former merchant seaman declined to comment on Putin’s links to the megayacht, telling The Sun: “I can’t say anything because of legal confidentiality.”

Two weeks ago police boarded the ship to examine its certification documents.

Swimming pool inside Putin's luxury yacht

When asked previously whether the ship was owned by the dictator, Mr Bennett-Pearce said: “I have never seen him. I have never met him.”

Speaking about the Italian investigators, the captain said: “They are looking hard. They are looking at every aspect.

“This isn’t the local coppers coming down, these are men in dark suits.”

He added that he could not say any more because of a “watertight nondisclosure agreement”.

Mr Bennett-Pearce‘s mum has said she’d be “pretty furious” if she found out he was working for the Russian dictator.

Debbie, 64, slammed the Russian tyrant, saying the thought of her son working for him “might make me a little bit furious”.

gold toilet roll holder inside Putin's luxury yacht

The construction for the ship was managed by Imperial Yachts, which oversees the builds of many of the world’s megayachts.

It is registered in the Cayman Islands and is legally owned by a company called Bielor Assets Ltd, domiciled in the Marshall Islands.

Putin, whose forces are bombing women and children in Ukraine, spared no expense on the six-deck Scheherazade which includes tasteless gold loo roll holders.

“Russian people paid for it. Putin needs his head flushing down that golden throne,” an ex-crew member said.

Pictures obtained by The Sun show six decks of obscene luxury and sickening excess.

A worker who helped build it said: “Every surface is marble or gold. There are countless swimming pools, a spa, a sauna, a theatre, ballrooms, a gym, two helipads. It’s like a mini city.

A view shows the multi-million-dollar mega yacht Scheherazade, docked at the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara. Picture: AFP

“There is even a hospital which makes sense when you hear rumours of Putin being terminally ill.

“It is hard to swallow the fact that the most incredible ship in the world is owned by a man intent on bombing civilians in Ukraine.

“And it is an unimaginable amount of wealth when the average Russian’s salary is £5,000 a year, and people there are struggling to eat.”

Personal touches for the Putin are clearly evident in a judo gym which has framed pictures of black belts.

Books show Putin’s obsession with wealth, including The Atlas of Beauty by Mihaela Noroc, Fashion History from the Kyoto Costume Institute and Photo Icons by Hans-Michael Koetzle.

Other indulgences include a self-levelling pool table, five-metre aquarium and the biggest TV on a yacht, stretching 4.5m across an entire wall, which cost a million euros to install.

The superyacht 'Scheherazade'. Picture: Getty Images

Bathrooms are adorned with gold toilet roll holders and taps.

And the ship’s highly sophisticated security system with four radars is said to be capable of shooting down drones.

Underneath one helipad there is a hangar big enough to store a helicopter along with six jet skis, five tenders, and eight Seabobs.

“All over the world yachts owned by oligarchs are being seized but the Scheherazade is sitting there in plain sight in a marina in Italy,” a former crew member said.

“It just doesn’t seem right.”

For the full set of pictures from inside Putin’s yacht see The Sun