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LEGACY YACHT MANAGEMENT

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Experts in all stages of yacht ownership.

Anytime. Anywhere.

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Such a great experience! I was able to celebrate my friend's 21st birthday on the most amazing boat ever! The crew was so nice and helpful. I would definitely work with this company! 10/10 experience

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The Best Yacht Management Companies in the World 

Home > Relevance Yacht News > The Best Yacht Management Companies in the World 

Posted by Joanna Lewis , Rumble Romagnoli 14 Nov 2023

Managing a superyacht is a complex and time-consuming affair, which is why yacht owners entrust their vessels to the world’s best yacht management companies.

As a global leader in yacht marketing, Relevance Yacht has worked with multiple luxury yacht management companies over the course of the past decade, including some of the best yacht management companies globally.

Here, we take a look at a selection of some of the best yacht management companies tasked with managing the world’s largest superyachts.

Hill Robinson

Hill Robinson is a Relevance Yacht client and is considered a leading yacht management company. Unlike other yacht management companies that were born out of yacht sales and yacht charters, Hill Robinson was established with the sole purpose of managing the complexities of the world’s largest superyachts. 

With over two decades of expertise, Hill Robinson offers a complete portfolio of industry-leading yacht management services, including crew management services, yacht accounting and financial control, compliance and security, and technical and maintenance support. Hill Robinson offers a complete end-to-end private yacht management solution and has demonstrable experience managing the world’s finest superyachts and mega yachts.  

Moran Yacht & Ship

Moran Yacht & Ship is a leading US brokerage with global reach. They are known for brokering some of the world’s biggest superyacht deals in history and offer a complete portfolio of luxury yacht management services. Their superyacht prowess is unmatched by any other brokerage, which is led by a team of yacht brokers with intimate knowledge of the superyacht industry spanning yacht sales, charter, construction, and yacht management. 

Moran’s yacht management services are designed to offer stress-free yacht ownership with a full suite of services, including yacht operations management, yacht accounting, yacht safety and compliance, yacht maintenance, and superyacht crew registration and placement. 

As a long-term Relevance Yacht client, our team supports Moran with a range of digital marketing services, including lead generation for Ultra-High-Net-Worth-Indivdiuals through tailored pay-per-click and search engine optimisation services.

Relevance Yacht worked with YACHTZOO to help elevate its online presence with a tailored digital marketing strategy encompassing SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, public relations, and customer relationship management, helping the company become a globally recognised full-service yacht brokerage and one of the best yacht management companies. 

YACHTZOO offers a complete portfolio of yacht management services, taking care of every facet of a superyacht’s operation, including administration, maintenance, logistical support, and compliance with yacht regulations, relieving captains and owners of the time-consuming complexities of the day-to-day operations of a private yacht.  

Y.CO is a global full-service yacht brokerage and supplier of luxury yacht management services. The Y.CO team is known for going the extra mile across all their services, including sales, charters, and yacht management, ensuring a seamless yachting experience. Their expert support and encyclopedic insights on the yachting industry have led Y.CO to secure its position as one of the world’s best yacht management companies. 

Y.CO was initially established as a yacht management provider and, as such, offers round-the-clock yacht management services that are designed to surpass expectations. Their impressive global yacht management fleet is a testament to Y.CO’s expertise.

Burgess is considered a global leader in luxury yacht sales, charters, and management. 

Burgess’ yacht management services offer captains and owners a complete solution with a personalised service that is tailored to meet individual needs. All yacht management services are provided in-house and managed by a highly skilled yacht management team, ensuring every vessel is in safe hands. With more than 30 years of yacht management expertise, Burgess is consistently considered one of the world’s best yacht management companies.

Fraser is a yacht industry heavyweight, consistently ranked as a leading yacht brokerage. The global brokerage offers a complete roster of services, including sales, charters, new builds, and private yacht management. Fraser’s yacht management team oversees a fleet of over 100 vessels, from 24-metres to 100-metres+, ensuring the highest standards across all yacht operations.   

Relevance Yacht worked with Fraser for over a decade on all aspects of digital marketing, including SEO, content marketing, digital advertising, and website design and development. Our work with Fraser helped the brokerage dominate the Search Engine Results Pages across multiple high-volume keywords related to yacht sales, yacht charters, and yacht management, showing the benefits of a long-term digital marketing strategy managed by yacht marketing experts. 

Relevance Yacht: the world’s leading yacht marketing agency

Relevance Yacht is a leading yacht marketing agency. Our full-service creative and yacht marketing services have helped many of the world’s best yacht management companies stand out in a saturated market and dominate the SERPs for keywords related to their unique business offerings. If you want to learn more about our 360 yacht marketing services, contact a team member or browse our company presentation.

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LEGACY is a 29.26 m Motor Yacht, built in Italy by Sanlorenzo and delivered in 2021. She is one of 27 SD96 models.

Her top speed is 18.0 kn and her cruising speed is 16.0 kn and her power comes from a MTU engine. She has a gross tonnage of 130.0 GT and a 7.4 m beam.

She was designed by Zuccon International Project , who has designed 677 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Sanlorenzo , who has architected 625 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Patricia Urquiola , who has 24 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with , a GRP hull, and GRP superstructure.

LEGACY is one of 5877 motor yachts in the 24-30m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her volume is 17.6 GT above the average.

LEGACY is currently sailing under the United States of America flag, the most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1655 yachts registered. She has recently entered the Roscioli refit yard, in United States of America. For more information regarding LEGACY's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: LEGACY
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Semi-displacement
• Model: SD96
• Builder: Sanlorenzo
• Naval Architect: Sanlorenzo
• Exterior Designer: Zuccon International Project
• Interior Designer: Patricia Urquiola

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MY LEGACY Motor yacht for sale

Built at the renowned Italian Shipyard Codecasa, MY LEGACY is a 55.8m (183ft) yacht delivered in 2021. She has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure built to Lloyd’s classification with naval architecture by the shipyard. Her exteriors are by Codecasa and with a generous beam of 10.2m she offers 887GT of interior volume showcasing design by Tommaso Spadolini, with an elevator serving all guest decks.

Built at the renowned Italian Shipyard Codecasa, MY LEGACY is a 55.8m (183ft) yacht delivered in 2021. She has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure built to Lloyd’s classification with naval architecture by the shipyard. Her exteriors are by Codecasa and with a generous beam of 10.2m she offers 887GT of interior volume showcasing design by Tommaso Spadolini, with an elevator serving all guest decks.

Considerable guest deck spaces include the sun deck with sunloungers aft, a lounge area, bar and an expansive sun deck pool. On a spacious bridge deck aft there is seating and a large convertible dining area for 10 to 12 guests. Sliding glass doors lead into a sky lounge with seating surrounding a coffee table and facing a movable TV on the port aft bulkhead. Walkaround decks lead to a private lounge forward of the bridge.

Lobby stairs lead down to the main deck foyer with access to the sidedeck and a dayhead. Aft is the formal dining space and there is an open-plan lounge aft of that with seating for ten. Sliding glass doors aft bring the outside in. On the main deck aft is a lounge area partially shaded by the upper deck overhang.

She welcomes 10 guests in five cabins. The owner's suite is forward on the main deck with a separate lounge. There is a full-beam his-and-hers bathroom forward and a walk-in wardrobe. On the port side, aft of the owner’s suite, is a VIP cabin that can be converted between double or twin berths. On the lower deck is a full-beam VIP cabin with a twin and double cabin aft.

As well as the main tender in the aft garage, there is a rescue tender forward beneath a flush deck hatch. Twin 2,375hp Caterpillar 3512E Tier III diesel engines give her a top speed of 18 knots, she cruises at 14 knots and has a maximum range of 5,000nm. Zero speed stabilisers ensure comfort at anchor on arrival.

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Key features

• 2021 built Codecasa
• Expansive sun deck pool
• Light and only private owners use
• Elevator serving all decks
• Timeless and classical Tommaso Spadolini interior
• LY3 compliant
• Unmatched volume at 887 GT, making her the best value among 50m+ sub-500GT yachts

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PROJECT 515

Price on application

• Length: 54.9m (180.1ft)
• 14 guests in 6 cabins
• Built: 2026, Burger, United States Of America

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Where Extraordinary Adventures Begin

The N&J Difference

Since 1949, Northrop & Johnson has remained the authority on yachting and is recognized as the leading global yacht brokerage offering 360-degree yachting services in the purchase, sale, management, construction and charter of superyachts and luxury boats over 98′ (30m). We are devoted to delivering extraordinary services and world-class experiences for our clients.

Discover luxury yachts for sale at Northrop & Johnson. From power boats to sailing yachts, explore our exclusive listings and find your perfect vessel with expert guidance from our brokers.

Your wanderlust knows no bounds as you cruise across the globe to your dream destination at the hands of an experienced crew dedicated to fulfilling your every need.

Your yacht is undoubtedly one of your most prized possessions. Your Northrop & Johnson broker will find you the right buyer at the best price possible in the shortest period of time.

Everything you need is in one place to maximize your superyacht ownership experience. We work with you to get the best out of your experience from Charter Marketing and Sales Management to Crew Services, Insurance and Marketing.

Our crew services experts specialize in accurately placing crew members on the appropriate yachts and guiding the successful careers of tens of thousands worldwide.

A Legacy of Excellence

1949 The Gentlemen Brokers Northrop & Johnson is founded in New York, with an office located on Madison Avenue, Manhattan and a base in Fort Lauderdale.

1950s Nothing but extraordinary The fledgling brokerage house Northrop & Johnson develops a reputation for honesty, integrity and fair play.

1960s Growth and maturity Northrop & Johnson expands its brokerage services and opens offices in Connecticut, Florida and Massachusetts.

1970s International flair Northrop & Johnson establishes a presence in Europe, opening a first office in Cannes, shortly followed by the opening of a second office in Puerto Banus, Spain.

1980s American heritage continued Northrop & Johnson’s opens flagship office in the heart of New England with its Newport, RI establishment.

1990s A new beginning Northrop & Johnson thrives under new ownership. With Kevin Merrigan at the helm, the brokerage company sets its foundations to build a modern powerhouse.

2000s From coast to coast Northrop & Johnson’s opens an office in San Diego, California. This locale allows the company to cater to the entire West Coast of America.

2010s The world is your oyster Opening offices in Asia Pacific, Palma, Monaco, Antibes, Australia and beyond confirms Northrop & Johnson as top player on the international stage.

2020s All aboard! The world's largest recreational marine group, MarineMax, has acquired Northrop & Johnson, integrating it into the publicly traded company.

Discover the Ultimate Yacht Charter

Experience the pinnacle of yachting with Northrop & Johnson, where our experts are committed to orchestrating your ultimate yacht charter adventure.

The Northrop & Johnson Difference

Honesty, integrity and extraordinary results.

From yacht sales, yacht purchase and new construction to yacht charter, charter management and crew placement, Northrop & Johnson is a full-service luxury yacht brokerage. Our expert team of sales brokers, charter brokers, charter managers, crew placement and staff are dedicated to fulfilling all of your yachting desires and demands. Northrop & Johnson has brokerage offices strategically placed in yachting hubs around the world, ensuring access wherever you cruise.

Northrop & Johnson prides itself on creating extraordinary yachting experiences by surpassing all expectations at every opportunity.

Our Sales Record

Extremely adept in finding the right buyer or yacht for a client, our impressive sales record showcases the level of expertise by our brokers and staff.

Offices From Coast to Coast

Northrop & johnson has 13 locations around the world.

From the bustling cities of the Americas to the historic waterways of Europe and the exotic ports of Asia, Northrop & Johnson stands as a truly global leader in superyacht marketing. Regardless of your location across the globe, you are guaranteed access to our unparalleled expertise and services. With strategic positions in key destinations worldwide, we are equipped and ready to assist you at any moment, in any place.

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Northrop & Johnson partners with leading yacht builders, designers, and suppliers globally. Our expert brokers facilitate seamless custom yacht construction, guiding owners through every step, from selecting the right shipyard to legal details. With established relationships in the industry, we promise a flawless process from start to finish.

From negotiating prices and contracts to coordinating surveys and sea trials, to providing support with ownership structures and legal matters, Northrop & Johnson’s brokers are skilled in all facets of yacht buying. You can expect a smooth purchase experience from start to finish, leaving you to enjoy the pleasures of stress-free yacht ownership.

Experience the world’s most captivating yachting destinations with Northrop & Johnson. From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia to Alaska’s fjords, unlock the perfect adventure aboard a luxury charter yacht.

Experience the most customizable on-water holiday available with a yacht charter. After choosing your destinations your charter broker will work with you to personally perfect your itinerary. Browse our sample itineraries to see what’s possible.

At Northrop & Johnson, we partner with the world’s leading yacht builders, manufacturers and refit facilities to offer top-of-the-line brokerage yachts for sale. Explore our index to view boats by builder.

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Northrop & Johnson’s superyacht charter experts have in-depth knowledge of worldwide destinations and in-person relationships with the captains and crew of all yachts in our global fleet. Completely private, and with endless luxurious amenities, a yacht charter is the ultimate vacation. Check out our Luxury Yacht Charter Guide to get started.

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Charter Price

From AUD 150,000 per week

Yacht Length

32m (105ft)

Sleeping Capacity

Low AUD 3,700 (Incl GST)

High AUD 4,500 (Incl GST)

Cruising Capacity

M/Y LEGACY boasts five comfortable guest cabins, accommodating up to 12 guests overnight. She features a stunning full-beam Master suite on the main deck, 2x VIP suites and 2 x twin suites with pullmans. Each features classic Gulf Craft interior finishes and state-of-the-art entertainment systems. The contemporary luxury of M/Y LEGACY is showcased in its custom-made premium marble countertops and white oak flooring that adorn the Saloon and Dining Area. Its sweeping windows allow natural light to flow in and create both a luxury, intimate and understanded ambiance. Two stand-out features of this modern and sleek yacht include her stunning Beach Club with an expandable diving platform and spacious bow, offering multiple spaces for guests to spread out and enjoy the ocean, cocktails and panoramic views.

Specifications

Build Year 2017

Flag Australia

Registry Port Sydney

Builder Gulf Craft

Draft 1.65m

Accommodation

Crew Members 5

Cruising Capacity 105

Static Capacity 100

Hourly Rate

Peak: Oct - Jan A$3,500 up to 60 guests

Peak: Oct - Jan A$4,000 61-80 guests

Peak: Oct - Jan A$4,500 81 - 105 guests

Low: Feb - Sept A$3,200 up to 60 guests

Low: Feb - Sept A$3,500 61-80 guests

Low: Feb - Sept A$4,000 81 -105 guests

Staff Price: A$520 for 4 hours

Price per extra hour: A$130

Staff to guest ratio: 1:10

Catering And Beverage

Catering and beverage may be charged in addition to the charter fees

Toys & Tenders

Cabin configuration.

Master Cabin

Twin Cabin 1 (With Pullman)

Twin Cabin 2 (With Pullman)

Catering Menu View Details

Beverages Menu View Details

Top Itineraries

7 Nights in the Whitsundays

3 Nights in Pittwater

New Years Eve in Sydney

2 Nights in the Whitsundays

Where can I charter LEGACY?

LEGACY spends her summer's in Sydney and Pittwater, and her winter's further north in the Gold Coast and Whitsundays. 

How many guests can LEGACY hold for day events?

LEGACY is one of the highest capacity yachts in Sydney Harbour with room to accomdate up to 105 guests for day charters. She has been specifically designed with extremely large open deck areas to acommodate large groups very comfortably, making her the perfect yacht for events of all sizes. 

How many people can sleep on LEGACY?

LEGACY can comfortably sleep 12 guests across 5 spacious cabins; 1 Master, 2 VIP's and 2 Twin Cabins which both have a pullman bed (1 single bunkbed in each Twin Room). All 5 cabins have an ensuite.

Can you provide furniture for the sundeck?

Yes - to make your charter as comfortable as possible, we can provide a large module couch arrangement for the sundeck free of charge on request. 

Is there a bar onboard for events?

LEGACY is the perfect yacht for events with her full-service bar on the sundeck which is a great spot to sip on to your favourite cocktail!

Does LEGACY have a tender?

For all TERM charters, LEGACY has a tender perfect for taking all of your guests to the beach or day trips onshore. 

Can I extend my charter time on the day?

Assuming there is no charter booked by another guest afterward, we would be more than happy to extend your charter time and the booking price previously agreed upon. 

Can I view LEGACY in person before booking my charter?

Absolutely, although we have an extensive array of videos and imagery, we would be more than happy to walk you through the vessel for inspection prior to booking, and at ay point in the planning process leading up to your charter date.

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Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE

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Simeon Kerr in Ras al-Khaimah

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Investigators around the world have been searching for sanctions-hit Russian oligarchs’ yachts. One has been hiding in plain sight.

Italian authorities in March impounded Russian coal and fertilisers magnate Andrey Melnichenko’s $600mn Sailing Yacht A after Russia invaded Ukraine. Another yacht, the $300mn Philippe Starck-designed Motor Yacht A, has been anchored for weeks in the port of Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates.

By placing his yacht in the UAE, Melnichenko has put it beyond the reach of western governments enforcing sanctions on those deemed supportive of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Its presence is a symbolic reminder of the Gulf monarchy’s ambivalence towards western sanctions on Russia, allies of Putin and the wealthy businessmen who have often benefited from ties to the state.

While the UAE government is trying to enhance measures against money laundering to exit a global dirty-money watchdog’s watchlist, the economic foundation of cities such as Dubai has long been based on welcoming flows of assets and people.

“Given its non-enforcement of western sanctions, the dilemma for the UAE is how to sustain its place as an open destination for capital while also appearing to be a good global citizen,” said one compliance professional. “It’s a tricky balancing act.”

The government of the Isle of Man said it had in March deregistered Melnichenko’s yachts, including Motor Yacht A, because of western sanctions, saying, “we will continue to act with appropriate robustness should the situation warrant it”.

Marine locator services placed Motor Yacht A off the Maldives in March. The Financial Times then saw the yacht on April 18. On Saturday it remained moored opposite Ras al-Khaimah’s city-centre fish market.

Businessmen in the UAE say Melnichenko, who denies affiliations to the Kremlin, held meetings there in April, but the tycoon has since returned to Moscow. A representative of Melnichenko, who has been placed under sanctions by the EU and UK as well as Switzerland and Australia, referred questions on the yacht to a lawyer who declined to comment.

UAE authorities in Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Abu Dhabi declined to comment.

European officials say they have raised concerns with Emirati counterparts that the UAE could become a financial haven for Russians placed under western sanctions. “We don’t want our allies to become facilitators for the Putin regime,” said one.

The UAE government has said it is maintaining a neutral course through the war, calling for an end to hostilities and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Abu Dhabi, which has developed closer ties with Moscow in recent years, has also assured its allies that sanctions-hit entities will not be able to operate in the UAE. The Gulf monarchy, which has long argued that it is not compelled to enforce other nations’ sanctions, is keen to maintain its historical role as an apolitical territory focused on business.

Thousands of wealthy, non-sanctions-hit Russians have relocated to the UAE to escape economic uncertainty and political instability at home, even though they sometimes struggle to access the financial system. “Big banks are more cautious but smaller banks are offering help to those wishing to relocate. It’s just taking a lot of time,” said a Russian businessman.

Very wealthy Russians generally find financial institutions accommodating. Most of the wealthy elite have second passports from countries that sell nationality, such as Malta or Portugal, which facilitates the opening of new accounts with lenders that are warier of Russian passport holders.

Others have turned to alternative routes, such as cryptocurrencies and hawala, or informal money exchange services. The cost of this service has risen from 1 per cent of the transaction value to 5 per cent since the war broke out as demand surges, said one person aware of the trades.

Many in the UAE see a hypocrisy in western concern over the presence of the yacht and the Russians building new lives there. “So it was OK for London to take all the oligarch money but not for Dubai?” asked one lawyer.

Additional reporting by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya in Riga

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Luxury yachts and other myths: How Republican lawmakers echo Russian propaganda

Two senior Republican lawmakers, the chairs of the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees, say their colleagues are echoing Russian state propaganda against Ukraine.

Researchers who study disinformation say Reps. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, are merely acknowledging what has been clear for some time: Russian propaganda aimed at undermining U.S. and European support for Ukraine has steadily seeped into America’s political conversation over the past decade, taking on a life of its own.

McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Puck News he thinks “Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base.”

Turner, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told CNN that anti-Ukraine messages from Russia are “being uttered on the House floor.”

For the past decade, since Russia’s first military incursion into Ukraine in 2014, Moscow has spread propaganda and disinformation in a bid to undercut U.S. and European military support for Ukraine, according to U.S. and Western officials.

Some of the arguments, distortions and falsehoods spread by Russia have taken root, mostly among right-wing pro-Trump outlets and Republican politicians, researchers say, including that Ukraine’s government is too corrupt to benefit from Western aid and that the Biden family has alleged corrupt ties to Ukraine.

Russia, in keeping with traditional propaganda techniques, seeks to make its case and tarnish Ukraine through a mixture of outright falsehoods, half-truths, inferences or simply amplifying and promoting arguments already being made by American or European commentators and politicians, researchers say.

The propaganda is sometimes spread covertly, through fake online accounts, or openly by Russian officials and state media. As a result, the origin of some allegations or criticisms is often opaque, especially when a certain accusation or perception has gained wide acceptance, leaving no clear fingerprints.

Early in the war, a false story boosted by Russian propaganda — that the U.S. had helped Ukraine build biological weapons labs — gained traction on right-wing social media and was touted by then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Russia also is conducting a parallel propaganda campaign in Europe. Belgium’s prime minister said Thursday that his government is investigating alleged Russian bribes to members of the European Parliament as part of Moscow’s campaign to undermine support for Ukraine. Czech law enforcement officials last month alleged that a former pro-Russian member of Ukraine’s parliament, Viktor Medvedchuk, was behind a Prague-based Russian propaganda network designed to promote opposition to aiding Ukraine.

Here are some examples of Republican lawmakers using arguments often promoted by Russian propaganda:

Buying yachts

When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of Congress behind closed doors in December to appeal for more U.S. help for his country’s troops, some lawmakers raised questions about Ukraine allegedly buying yachts with American aid money.

Zelenskyy made clear that was not the case, according to Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a strong supporter of arming Ukraine. “I think the notion of corruption came up because some have said we can’t do it, because people will buy yachts with the money,” Tillis told CNN. “[Zelenskyy] disabused people of those notions.”

Where did the yacht rumor come from?

Pro-Russian actors and websites promoted a narrative alleging Zelenskyy bought two superyachts with U.S. aid dollars. One Russia-based propaganda site, DC Weekly , published a story last November that included photos of two luxury yachts, called Lucky Me and My Legacy , which it alleged were bought for $75 million.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a vocal opponent of military aid to Ukraine, in November retweeted a post about the alleged yacht purchase from the Strategic Culture Foundation, a Russian-based propaganda outlet directed by Russia’s intelligence services, according to the Treasury Department. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the organization, accusing it of spreading disinformation and interfering in U.S. elections.

Another outspoken critic of aid to Ukraine, Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, also made a similar claim.

In a December interview with former President Donald Trump’s White House adviser Steve Bannon, Vance claimed that members of Congress wanted to cut Social Security benefits to provide more aid to Ukraine, and that money would allegedly be used for Zelenskyy’s ministers to “buy a bigger yacht.”

“There are people who would cut Social Security, throw our grandparents into poverty. Why? So that one of Zelenskyy’s ministers can buy a bigger yacht?” Vance said. “Kiss my ass, Steve. It’s not happening.”

The tale of Zelenskyy’s luxury yacht, however, turned out to be totally false . The yachts cited in the DC Weekly article remain up for sale , the owners told The Associated Press.

Two academics at Clemson University, disinformation researchers Darren Linvill and Patrick Warren, found that DC Weekly ran numerous stories copied from other sites that were rewritten by artificial intelligence engines. The articles had bylines with fake names along with headshots copied from other online sites. DC Weekly appeared to be a Russian effort to launder false information through a seemingly legitimate news site as part of an attempt to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine, according to the researchers .

Asked by reporters about Vance’s comments, Tillis said: “I think it’s bullshit. ...If you’re talking about giving money to Ukrainian ministers — total and unmitigated bullshit.”

Greene’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Vance’s spokesperson said the senator was making a rhetorical point about how he opposed sending U.S. assistance to what he sees as a corrupt country, but was not asserting the yacht stories online were accurate.

Vance’s office referred NBC News to an earlier response to the BBC on the same topic:

“For years, everyone in the West recognized that Ukraine was one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Somehow everyone forgot that just as we started sending them billions of dollars in foreign aid.”

Enabling ‘corruption’

Russian state media for years has painted Ukraine as deeply corrupt, and has argued that the U.S. and its allies are wasting money and military hardware by assisting such an allegedly corrupt government.

“This is absolutely a line that they have pushed, and then once it appears in the Western ecosystem, other [Russian] media picks it up and it gets recycled back,” said Bret Schafer, a senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy.

This line of argument has gained traction partly because Ukraine does face a genuine corruption problem.

Russia’s effort to focus attention on corruption in Ukraine reflects a long-established propaganda method of using facts or partial truths to anchor a broader assertion or accusation, sometimes making a leap in logic, Schafer and other researchers said. Russia’s message amounts to: Ukraine is corrupt, therefore U.S. and Western aid will be stolen and wasted.

Schafer said it was ironic for Russia, a country mired in corruption and kleptocracy, to be leveling accusations about corruption.

Republican Rep. Mary Miller has said she strongly opposes more assistance for Ukraine because it amounts to sending cash to “corrupt oligarchs.”

“With Zelensky coming to DC this week to ask for more money, I will continue to vote AGAINST sending your tax $$ to corrupt oligarchs in Ukraine for a proxy war that could have ended in ‘22,” Miller wrote in a post on X in December.

The Illinois lawmaker also echoed another assertion that often appears in Russian media, that the Biden administration allegedly undermined efforts by Russia to avoid war with Ukraine.

 “A peace deal was on the table that [Ukraine] and [Russia] were both ready to sign, but Biden said NO,” she wrote.

There was in fact no proposed peace agreement that Russia and Ukraine were prepared to sign before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to U.S. and European officials. As Russian troops massed on the border of Ukraine, Western governments urged Russia not to invade and warned there would be economic and diplomatic consequences.

Reuters has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a possible deal to avert a war that had been discussed with Kyiv by Russia’s envoy to Ukraine. The Kremlin said the report was inaccurate and has said Russia tried for years to arrive at an understanding with Ukraine.

As for corruption in Ukraine, Zelenskyy has vowed to tackle the problem, sacking senior officials in some recent cases. But some civil society groups have criticized his approach and Ukrainians say corruption is the country’s second-most serious problem, after the Russian invasion, according to a poll conducted last year.

In an annual survey, Transparency International said Ukraine made progress toward addressing the issue and now ranks 104th out of 180 countries on its Corruption Perceptions Index , climbing 12 places up from its previous ranking.

Ukraine is not alone among countries that receive U.S. and other foreign aid but struggle with corruption. Supporters of assisting Ukraine argue it would undermine America’s influence in the world and its humanitarian efforts if Washington withheld foreign aid from every country where there were reports of corruption.

Miller’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Biden family and Ukraine

Republicans have repeatedly alleged that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter have corrupt ties to Ukraine, and that they sought $5 million in bribes from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma to protect the firm from an investigation by Ukraine’s prosecutor general.

There is no credible evidence for the allegations. A key source for the accusations against the Bidens is a former FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, who was arrested in February on federal charges of fabricating the bribery claims. Smirnov says he was fed information by Russian intelligence.

Republicans had heavily promoted Smirnov’s allegations against the Bidens, seeing them as crucial to a planned impeachment effort against the president that has since fizzled .

“In my estimation, that is probably the clearest example of Russian propaganda working its way into the American political system,” said Emerson Brooking, a resident senior fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab of the Atlantic Council.

GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona cited the false bribery allegations in expressing his opposition to providing assistance to Ukraine.

“In exchange for … bribe money from Ukraine, Joe Biden has dished out over $100 billion in taxpayer money to fund the war in Ukraine. I will not assist this corruption by sending more money to the authoritarian Ukrainian regime,” Gosar said in a statement in October.

Gosar’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Dan De Luce is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. 

Syedah Asghar is a Capitol Hill researcher for NBC News and is based in Washington, D.C.