A 207-foot superyacht hit the stern of a 160-foot gas tanker in the Bahamas on Christmas Eve and sank it in 2,000 feet of water.
The $51million yacht, Utopia IV, built by the Italian yard Rossinavi in 2018 with an aluminum hull, collided with the Tropic Breeze tanker about 15 miles north/northwest of New Providence Island. A nearby yacht rescued the seven crew on board the tanker before it sank. The Utopia IV suffered damage to the starboard side of its bow and was escorted to the Prince George Wharf by the Harbor Patrol.
Maritime Management LLC, which owns the Tropic Breeze, issued a statement saying the tanker was “rear-ended by a 207-foot superyacht” and that it was “traveling on its proper watch when it was rear-ended.” The accident occurred just after 10 p.m.
The statement said “the catastrophic force of the collision pierced the stern of the tanker, causing the tanker to sink to the ocean floor at 2,000 feet.”
The Tropic Breeze, built in 1989, left New Providence Island on Dec. 24, bound for Great Stirrup Cay in the Berry Islands. Maritime Management said its cargo consisted of “non-persistent materials, LPG, marine gas and automotive gas,” and was “lighter than water and will evaporate if exposed to surface air.”
It was not known if Utopia IV was under charter at the time of the accident, or how many people were on board the yacht. It is owned by JR Ridinger, who is the CEO of Market America, a direct-sales organization, and shop.com. He and his wife, Loren, live in Miami Beach.
The Utopia IV was listed for sale last June. It can carry 12 guests and 13 crew. It’s powered by four Rolls Royce engines and four hydro jets, producing a top speed of 33 knots. The interior is lavish, outfitted by Hermes and Armani.
Bahamian authorities are investigating. Read more:
