Bahamas: Gas tanker sank off the coast of New Providence after being hit by superyacht

According to a statement released by the Bahamas Ministry of Transport and Housing, a gas tanker hit by a 207-foot superyacht sank off the coast of New Providence last Friday.

The Ministry cited in the statement, “The Port Department has begun a formal investigation into the incident, & the Department of Environmental Health is also instructing a review of the environmental impact. These activities are currently underway”. 

The office of Attorney General has been consulted for the legal guidance regarding the incident. An investigation has been commenced, and the update will be provided after its completion, the Ministry of Transport and Housing informed the media. 

Maritime Management LLC, which managed the ship M/T Tropic Breeze, issues a statement which notes that the ship was battered at 10.03 pm on Christmas Eve by the M/Y Utopia IV approximately 15 miles NNW of New Providence, adding, “The catastrophic force of the crash hit the stern of the tanker causing the tanker to sink to the ocean floor at an estimated depth of 2,000 feet”. 

Following the statement, the company officials in the issued statement cited, “Due to the depth of the ocean at the location of the sinking, it has been determined that the tanker cannot be safely salvaged”. 

As per the firm, the cargo in the tanker included all the non-persistent items such as – LPG, marine gas and automotive gas. Earlier this month only, the vessel was inspected by the, and it complied with all national and international safety and vessel integrity standards. 

It is not known what was the speed of the yacht at the time it collided. 

About 207-foot superyacht – 

Italian shipyard is behind the designing and building the US$51 million superyachts, Utopia IV, in the year 2018. 

The Italian designers convey that the vessel is fitted with four light Rolls Royce engines as well as four hydro jets that provide it with a top speed of 33 knots and an average cruising speed of 26 knots.