The yacht of Russian billionaire, blocking the view of the Statue of Liberty

The yacht of Russian billionaire, blocking the view of the Statue of Liberty

The last 2 months the yacht of Russian billionaire constantly anchored at the statue of Liberty, than the noble, blocking the view of the monument for tourists.

«It looks like a private yacht on the background of the people’s statue,» said Roland Lewis, President of the Waterfront Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works to protect the coast. «This ship being there prevents the passage of tour boats that bring tourists wishing to visit the statue.»

Yacht Le Grand Bleu belongs to the Russian-American oil magnate Eugene Shvidler, who received it as a gift from a friend of Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch and friend of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. A yacht with a height of 370 feet is one of the largest private yachts in the world.

On 17 April the ship first dropped anchor in front of Lady Liberty and two weeks must have been there before to sail to Gravesend Bay in may. However, in June, the boat returned to its original Parking place and has been here for most of the month, spoiling tourists photo and the overall impression of the Statue of Liberty.

«The situation is depressing. You don’t see things that symbolize freedom and justice in America,» said 41-year-old Craig Mahoney, a tourist from Massachusetts.

In accordance with the legislative requirements of the new York yacht has the right to anchor at the statue of Liberty, but the ship did not stay here for longer than a day or two.

«I swim in the Harbor of new York for 50 years, and I’ve never seen a mega-yacht stood at anchor here during such a long period of time,» said captain Jim chambers. «I think they just reduce maintenance costs due to bindings not paying for Parking in the Harbor officially.»

Today is one day the yacht Manhattan cruise terminal costs thousands of dollars.

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