The captain of a detained $50 million superyacht has slammed 'blatant racism' towards Russians who don't want to be associated with the Ukraine war

The captain of a $50 million superyacht has hit out at blatant racism shown toward Russians who don't want to be linked to the Ukraine war.

Guy Booth, captain of the 192-foot Phi, which has been linked to a Russian businessman, told New Zealand publication Stuff that the yacht's crew was 100% British and always has been, and they opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin.

Booth said that they do not condone the blatant racism shown towards those Russians that wish to not be associated with the conflict.

Booth said the owner of the Phi was guilty by association of his passport only, and that they had never been connected with anyone who is.

The West has been putting pressure on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine by confiscating their assets. On Tuesday, he was taken into custody by the UK in Canary Wharf.

The UK's National Crime Agency declined to name the owner of the vessel, only saying that they were a Russian businessman who kept their ownership a secret. Grant Shapps referred to the owner of the yacht as a Russian billionaire.

Booth told Stuff that the owner of the vessel wasn't an industrialist and that the use of the term put all the crew at an unnecessary risk of harm from those that are angry about the war.

Anti-war activists have targeted some of the vessels owned by the oligarchs. A group of protesters in an inflatable dinghy tried to stop Roman Abramovich's $600 million superyacht from docking in Turkey.

The owner of Phi was reported by the Financial Times. The UK has not imposed sanctions on Kochetkov, and he does not appear to be close to Putin.

The UK banned all Russian-owned ships from its ports on March 1 and gave authorities the power to detain them. The National Crime Agency said that it was the first ever superyacht to be held in UK waters.

The staff of the yacht was told that it was owned, controlled, or operated by a person connected with Russia.

Grace Deam

Shapps said that by detaining Phi, authorities had turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

After making its maiden voyage there from the Netherlands, Phi has been moored in Canary Wharf since December.

The vessel is the property and responsibility of the owner, but can't leave the dock, according to an NCA spokesman.

According to Booth, the Italian authorities inspected the ship on Thursday and requested comprehensive documents before telling the staff that everything appeared to be in order.