(WASHINGTON) — On July 27, 2024, at about 12:35 p.m. local time, the yacht Lovebug was transiting Chesapeake Bay in the West River north of Shady Side, Md., when the vessel started listing heavily to starboard. The four crewmembers and one owner on board abandoned the vessel and were rescued by nearby vessel crews.
The 122-foot yacht partially sank in about 12 feet of water. There was one minor injury. An oil sheen, visible around the vessel, was contained with a boom. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $8 million.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the listing and partial sinking of the yacht was undetected flooding through an open watertight door, resulting in the vessel losing stability.
“The vessel’s aftmost spaces on its lower deck were a garage that housed watercraft and a technical area for vessel electrical and mechanical systems on the port side. Forward of the garage and technical area, separated by a watertight bulkhead, was the engine room compartment. This watertight bulkhead had watertight doors to the engine room compartment,” the NTSB report said. “The garage space was accessed through a large clamshell-type door on the stern actuated with hydraulic rams. Beneath the door was a platform that could be tilted down for launching and recovering watercraft. During diving operations, salvors found that this external garage door was partially open. Salvors also found the watertight door between the garage and engine room compartment open.”
Click here to read the complete report.
– National Transportation Safety Board
