Yacht collisions can cause catastrophic damage, leading to devastating fatalities, damage to waterways, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. When these rare accidents occur, it’s crucial that other yacht owners, maritime workers, and employers learn important lessons so we can avoid making the same mistakes again. At the same time, it’s crucial for injured victims to get the justice they deserve after injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. At BoatLaw, we help victims throughout the Washington region after yacht accidents. Call us at 1-800-BOATLAW to set up a consultation with our yachting accident attorneys.
At BoatLaw, LLP, we focus on serving injured maritime workers and passengers throughout the Pacific Northwest. For more than 40 years, our yachting accident law firm has represented victims who have lost limbs, income, and loved ones to other parties’ negligence. Learn more about the crucial lessons we can take away from yachting collisions and how the team at BoatLaw can help you.
Venus and Lady Moura Collision
In July of 2024, two of the world’s most famous luxury yachts collided, leading to devastating property damage. Venus, which was originally designed for Apple founder Steve Jobs and was completed after his passing, was $120 million. Lady Moura, owned by billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, was similar in value and size. Both yachts were at sea when there was a sudden and unexpected change in wind speed. Although Lady Moura had more chain out to allow for more drifting, the crew of the Venus failed to estimate the length of the chain accurately, which resulted in the collision. The collision was complicated by the rapid onset of a storm with winds as high as 55 knots.
What can boaters and maritime employers learn from this? It’s rare for one single error or factor to lead to a massive yacht collision. There are often multiple factors at play, and it’s important for boaters to have all of these factors in mind when navigating. In this case, for example, the crew of the Venus may have erred in their estimations of Lady Moura’s chain. It’s also possible that both crews could have done more to plan for a storm; while you can never truly expect the unexpected, sudden weather changes do happen and crew members should have plans in place. In this case, the issue was ultimately settled by yachting accident law firms and no formal maritime investigation took place.
Phocea Fire and Sinking
The yachting world was watching carefully in February of 2021 when 75-meter yacht Phocea caught on fire just off the coast of Malaysia. The ship unexpectedly caught fire, and at the worst possible time—the boat also faced strong winds, and those winds fed the flame and allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably. Eventually, the Coast Guard did get the fire under control and put it out. Unfortunately, by that point, the damage was too extensive for the boat to stay afloat. The Phocea sank, but not before all seven crewmen were rescued without injury.
There are numerous lessons to be learned from this. The importance of quick action cannot be ignored when a yacht is ablaze or otherwise in serious danger. The quick actions of the Coast Guard ultimately put out the fire, but not soon enough to prevent the yacht from sinking. However, their actions were fast enough to save the lives of the seven crewmen onboard. The yacht was also carrying oil at the time of the collision, and no oil spill was reported. Maritime collisions often involve dangerous chemicals and materials, which can turn an already serious matter into one that triggers environmental investigations, yachting accident attorneys, and international fines.
MS Porrima Fire
MS Porrima is an experimental Swiss ship that utilizes renewable solar, wind, and hydrogen power. The battery compartment of the yacht caught fire, and the Indian Coast Guard leaped into action to save the crew and stop the fire. Their fast response, though, was tempered by poor weather and heavy flooding.
The same dangers that can affect electric vehicles can affect other vehicles that use alternative fuel sources. The ship had previously faced technical difficulties and the crew requested repair assistance but were denied due to the complexities of the yacht’s power. This is something that must be considered by yacht owners using experimental fuel sources. Furthermore, it’s important not to rely solely on rescue efforts. In this case, the Indian Coast Guard did everything right, but weather difficulties complicated their efforts.
Injured in a Yacht Collision? Let Our Yachting Accident Lawyers Help
Yacht collisions are incredibly complex, and having the right legal team is essential. At BoatLaw, we are committed to helping victims like you. Call our yachting accident lawyers at 1-800-BOATLAW or get in touch online now.
Douglas R. Williams was raised in a military family. After retiring from the armed forces, his father sailed as the chief medical officer with many of the most popular cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. When not in school, Doug spent a good part of his youth in the crew quarters sailing with his father on cruise ships. He developed a practical knowledge of the maritime industry from a young age. Learn More here.
