Posted on September 2, 2024
The 37.2-metre Sanlorenzo motor yacht LoveBug has been raised following an incident in July 2024 where the yacht ran aground between Beverly Beach and Curtis Point, at the mouth of the West River, USA.
Over the weekend of Saturday 27 July 2024, LoveBug ran aground in Chesapeake Bay, approximately half a mile offshore. According to local sources, the captain of LoveBug intentionally steered her towards shallow waters, after she started taking on water.
At approximately 12:30 on Saturday 27 July, the US Coast Guard received an emergency call from the yacht, which was situated near the mouth of the Rhode River. Located eight nautical miles south of Annapolis, LoveBug was reported to be dangerously listing to starboard.
The US Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police swiftly dispatched response units, and with the help of a nearby vessel from Tour Boat Annapolis, the yacht’s crew was safely evacuated.
A statement released by the US Coast Guard shortly after the incident assured that: “there [were] no reports of pollution at this time,” and an oil boom had been deployed around the vessel to mitigate any potential spills.
“The five persons onboard were safely recovered by a good Samaritan and a tow boat,” stated the U.S Coast Guard Sector for Maryland at the time of the incident. “The vessel is not impeding the navigational channel.”
Efforts to refloat the yacht began two weeks ago on 13 August, with The Farrell 256, a 200-foot crane barge with a 120-foot boom and Meagan Ann, a coastal towing tug, being the first vessels to arrive on the scene.
New Jersey-based firm Donjon Marine were contracted to salvage LoveBug, with Steven Newes, senior vice president of Donjon Marine stating that the plan was to deliver her to underwriters and her owner.
On 17 August, a 250-foot crane with a 140-foot boom called The Columbia NY and the Thomas D Whitte coastal towing tug arrived on the scene to assist with the efforts. According to Newes, The Farrell 256 would be used to rig the LoveBug with slings and The Columbia NY would roll and lift her to an upright position, with water inside the yacht needing to be pumped out.
Images obtained by SuperYacht Times from photographer Tim Mangus, show the yacht being raised from the water, while water was pumped out of the vessel to allow it to float.
Delivered in 2010 under the name Anastasia M, LoveBug features exterior design by Francesco Paszkowski, with naval architecture by Sanlorenzo. She can accommodate eight guests across four staterooms.
