luxury yacht burns in massive blaze

• Australia News

Luxury superyacht destroyed in massive fire after exploding while moored at Hamilton Island Marina in the Whitsundays

A luxury superyacht docked at a marina in the Whitsundays has exploded into a ball of flames, spewing enormous plumes of smoke into the air and blanketing nearby vessels.

A luxury superyacht docked in the Whitsundays has been completely destroyed in a massive inferno after a blaze ignited on board the high end vessel.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service crews were called to Hamilton Island Marina at about 10:45am on Monday to find the luxury boat fully engulfed in flames.

Giant plumes of thick black smoke were seen spewing into the air, blanketing nearby vessels.

It's understood no one was onboard when the fire broke out, however a man in his 40s and a man in his 60s have been assessed for smoke inhalation. 

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A super yacht has been destroyed by fire on Hamilton Island. The cause is unclear. Police say no one was on board when it broke out. @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/pcp8miN9Ma — Jordan Fabris (@JordanFabris9) October 24, 2022

A QFES spokesman told skynews.com.au it took firefighters almost two hours to contain the blaze.

They remained at the scene alongside police to monitor the "active flames" and "smoke" as they tried to stop the giant vessel from sinking. 

The cause of the blaze is not yet clear and investigations are continuing.

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• 08:21, 13 Aug 2023
• Updated 14:30, 13 Aug 2023

This is the dramatic moment a 88-foot luxury yacht goes up in flames off the paradise Mediterranean island of Formentera.

Onlookers gathered nearby in their own boats to watch the blaze take hold as thick black smoke rose high into the sky above the stricken vessel . Five crew and 12 passengers are said to have been on board the yacht but were able to abandon it in time despite the speed with which the fire engulfed the Italian-designed cruiser.

Terrifying video shows the flames roaring through the vessel, which is burnt back to little more than its frame in several places. The fire is thought to have ripped through the vessel in a matter of moments, sending it up in a massive fireball that could be seen from neighbouring Ibiza.

Only one of the crew members, described as a 39-year-old Spaniard who suffered minor burns, needed hospital treatment according to regional emergency response coordinators. The alarm was sounded around 6pm yesterday while the yacht was anchored off Es Cavall d’en Borras beach in the Ses Salines Natural Park.

Spanish coastguards confirmed this afternoon the yacht that went up in flames was called Irmao and it had sunk off a natural landmark called Punta de Sa Pedrera in Formentera. They shared a statement published alongside footage of coastguard vessel Acrux towing the stricken yacht further out to sea before it disappeared under the water.

It read: “Yesterday a fire occurred on board Irmao off of Formentera. Private vessels rescued the 17 people on board. Our centre in the Majorcan capital Palma mobilised Acrux which towed the yacht which was on fire, but it sank.” It was not immediately clear why the blaze had started.

The fine sand beach, one of the best in Formentera off Ibiza where Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted partying in recent days, is home to famous bar-restaurants El Tiburon and Beso Beach. The yacht has been named locally as Irmao, which is based in Ibiza and marketed online as being available for “out-of-this-world charter vacations." It sleeps 12 in a VIP cabin, one double cabin and four twin cabins and charters for nearly £40,000 a week in high season.

One unconfirmed local report said the vessel belonged to Spanish poker shark Diego Gomez Gonzales, who also goes by "The Lion", according to Olive Press. Gonzales, 34, earned his nickname after attending the 2012 European Poker Tour in Prague dressed in a fully-body lion costume. It's currently unknown if Gonzales was on board at the time or whether it was being rented.

Gonzales was reportedly born in Madrid in 1988 and while growing up he started playing the card game with school pals and members of his family. As he got older he was drawn into the world of online poker before getting a place on the Spanish poker circuit. At the same tournament where he wore the lion suit, he came fifth and scored a whopping £200,000 prize.

The yacht was anchored off one of Formentera's most-stunning beaches. The island itself is one of the Balearics and is situated next to Ibiza. It is host to a number of world-famous bars, including El Tiburon and Beso Beach.

It is home to famous bar-restaurants El Tiburon and Beso Beach.

The nationalities of those on board have not yet been made public. Spanish coastguards responded to the emergency by towing the yacht further out to sea and assisting in putting out the flames. Last summer a £20 million superyacht owned by wealthy Italian businessman Paolo Scudieri went up in flames off the coast of Ibiza.

The 150ft vessel Aria SF caught fire on August 11, just a month after being delivered to its multi-millionaire owner. Spanish coastguards sent two rescue boats to the area as the nine passengers and seven crew on board abandoned ship after a Mayday call following a failed attempt to put out the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries. The black smoke the fire caused could be seen as far away as Majorca.

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Watch This 88-Foot Yacht Burn in a Massive Fire in Spain

Firefighters who extinguished the blaze in Valencia point to battery failure, according to reports.

William Bredderman

Senior Researcher

Valencia Plaza

A yacht loaded with more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel sent up a spectacular plume of smoke as it burned in a Spanish port on Friday, according to local videos and news outlets.

Footage shows the pleasure craft blazing orange and black for on the soft blue Mediterranean waters in Valencia, before three platoons of firefighters extinguished the flames after 12 hours. Initial reports identified the vessel as the Pesa, and stated it flew a French flag, though they did not identify its owner.

Press accounts cited unnamed fire department sources who blamed the conflagration on a battery failure that ignited the luxury ship’s fiberglass hull. However, miraculously, they asserted the yacht’s huge fuel tanks appeared untouched—and said they planned to recover the diesel despite the submersion of the boat’s stern. Port authorities reportedly denied any contamination of the northern marina where the Pesa was docked, or any damage to nearby berths, despite the emergency installation of an anti-contamination barrier in the water.

Yacht charter sites describe the Pesa as a three-year-old Italian-built craft capable of hosting up to eight passengers, plus three crewmembers. A webpage advertising opportunities to rent the boat lists a rate of €70,000—roughly $76,135—per week.

“Pesa’s impressive leisure and entertainment fit-out (paddleboards, sea-bobs and top-of-the-range jet-ski as well as towable toys and snorkeling, wakeboard and water-ski equipment) makes her the ideal charter yacht to enjoy an activity-packed vacation with family and friends,” the site reads. “Her luxurious interior is designed exclusively to reflect the refined tastes of her owners.”

The operators of the page did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Extensive damage to luxury yacht during blaze at Hamilton Island Marina

A blaze that erupted at a Whitsundays island marina on Monday morning has caused extensive damage to a luxury yacht.

Key points:

• A luxury yacht has been destroyed after catching fire while moored at Hamilton Island
• The cause of the fire is unknown
• No-one was onboard at the time, but two people have been assessed for smoke inhalation

Authorities report the fire broke out onboard the boat, which was moored at Hamilton Island Marina, just before 11am.

Emergency services took several hours to contain the blaze, with active flames and smoke still evident at 1pm. 

No-one was on board at the time of the fire, but a man in his 40s and man in his 60s have been assessed for smoke inhalation. 

A spokesperson from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said one crew was able to contain the fire. 

A spokesperson from the Queensland Police Service said officers had to travel from Airlie Beach to attend the scene. 

The cause of the fire is unknown. 

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Blaze destroys dozens of superyachts in Marbella marina

Around 80 boats are feared to have been destroyed after a blaze ripped through a Marbella marina in the Costa del Sol .

This video shows the scene as black smoke billowed from the flames as luxury yachts burned on Wednesday evening, 11 January.

Firefighters battled the blaze, and Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz said no other buildings in the area were impacted.

She said in her tweet that the fire broke out in a warehouse, but investigations were ongoing into the cause.

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Luxury yacht engulfed in ball of flames off Spanish coast

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This is the dramatic moment a luxury yacht caught fire off the Spanish island of Formentera.

Footage showed the 88-foot vessel engulfed in flames, with plumes of thick, black smoke billowing into the sky.

The Italian-designed cruiser was anchored off the beach of Es Cavall d’En Borràs in the Ses Salines Natural Park near where Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted partying in recent days.

Five crew members and 12 passengers scrambled to abandon the vessel in a race against the time.

Only one of the crew members, a 39-year-old Spaniard, suffered minor burns and needed hospital treatment, the regional emergency response coordinators said.

Onlookers gathered nearby in their own boats to watch the fire.

Flames could be seen spreading throughout the yacht in just a matter ofminutes, turning it into a fireball.

Local media reported that the vessel belonged to professional poker player Diego Gomez Gonzalez, aka ‘The Lion’, but this has not been confirmed by authorities.

It was not immediately clear this morning if the people on board were tourists who had chartered the yacht or guests of the owner.

Their nationalities have also not yet been made public either.

The alarm was sounded around 6pm on Saturday, with Spanish coastguards sent to the scene.

The yacht was towed further out to sea where the fire was put out.

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• NSW & ACT

Dozens of firefighters battle blaze after luxury yacht catches fire at Sydney marina

More than 20 firefighters battled to put out a blaze after a luxury yacht burst into flames and the fire spread to other boats at a Sydney marina.

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Fuel and oil has spilt into the ocean after several boats burst into flames at a marina in Sydney’s south on Monday.

Fire and Rescue NSW were called to Caringbah South about 4am following reports a blaze had erupted on a luxury yacht.

It was “well alight” when crews arrived.

The fire then spread to surrounding vessels and also caused damaged to the marina.

“Firefighters arrived on scene to a large fire with flames impinging on a number of nearby boats. Crews worked for over two hours and managed to contain the fire just after 6am,” a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said.  

NSW Police said the vessel sank while crews were trying to put out the fire, and “attempts are being made to contain debris”.

“The marina also sustained minor damage,” police said in a statement.

Two men were on the boat and managed to flee the inferno by the time emergency services arrived.

They were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation before being taken to hospital as a precaution.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Scott Dodson said the two people on the boat were alerted to the blaze thanks to a working fire alarm.

“The presence of the smoke alarm could have been a matter of life of death for the occupants this morning,” he said.

“This is a reminder for all residents to ensure they have a working smoke alarm in their homes.”

Fire crews have since extinguished the blaze.

Fire investigators and police are on the scene to determine what caused the inferno.

The fire was also treated as a hazardous materials incident after fuel and oil leaked into the harbour.

The Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said crews used containment booms to stop the hazardous liquids from spreading.

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Passengers evacuate luxury superyacht in Spain before it erupts in massive blaze

Posted: August 21, 2023 | Last updated: March 4, 2024

This is the moment passengers were able to evacuate luxury superyacht Irmao in Formentera, Spain on August 12 moments before it erupted into a massive blaze. All 17 occupants were rescued, only one crew member was hospitalized for minor burns.

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‘Poker star’s’ luxury yacht sunk by fire

A luxury yacht has sunk after spectacularly bursting into flames off the Spanish island of Formentera.

All 17 people on board the 27m Irmao, five crew members and a dozen passengers, escaped unhurt, according to reports.

The yacht was anchored in Cavall d’en Borràs, off the north of the island, in the Balearics, and in front of a well-known restaurant called El Tiburon. The boat’s owner is said to be Diego Gómez González, 34, a professional poker player who goes by the nickname “the Lion”.

The blaze apparently began in the stern on Saturday evening and quickly spread, turning the yacht into a ball of fire. A huge column of smoke could be seen from as far away as the neighbouring island of Ibiza, which is 12 miles to the north.

Rescue services were able to secure a line to the burning yacht and tow it further out to sea, where it eventually sank at about 9pm. There was no pollution reported after an inspection of the area yesterday morning.

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Sources told the Periodico de Ibiza newspaper that the boat was available to rent from a charter company and that it would be the responsibility of the shipowner to refloat the stricken vessel and move it to a port, where it could be assessed for restoration.

It is not known whether Gómez, who gained his nickname after wearing a full-body lion costume in Prague a decade ago, was on board at the time of the fire.

The blaze attracted others who watched from their own boats as it took hold, according to reports.

The Spanish coastguard said: “Our centre in the Majorcan capital Palma mobilised Acrux, which towed the yacht which was on fire, but it sank.”

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The moment $2.5million went up in flames: Shocking video shows luxury yacht 'Positive Energy' engulfed in a massive blaze in the US Virgin Islands 

• The 77ft yacht - reportedly sold for $2.5million in 2014 - burst into flames at St Thomas island yesterday
• Locals spotted the blaze aboard the luxury boat, named Positive Energy, and contacted emergency services 
• U.S. Coast Guard helped tow the yacht to a more remote location where crews continued to contain the blaze 
• It took several hours for the fire to be extinguished and the black clouds of smoke were visible around the area
• The Yacht Haven Grande marina in the Charlotte Amalie harbor was not damaged and there were no injuries

By Harriet Mallinson For Mailonline

Published: 08:07 EDT, 16 March 2016 | Updated: 06:23 EDT, 17 March 2016

View comments

The paradise of the US Virgin Islands was disrupted yesterday when a luxury yacht was engulfed by flames.

The 77ft yacht, reportedly worth $2.5million, was moored at the Yacht Haven Grande marina in the Charlotte Amalie harbor on the island of St Thomas when the fire broke out.

Locals spotted the blaze aboard the luxury boat , named Positive Energy, and contacted emergency services. 

Scroll down for video 

Blaze: The paradise of the US Virgin Islands was disrupted yesterday when a luxury yacht was engulfed by flames

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Firefighters and police, as well as personnel from West Indian Co. Ltd, Norwegian Cruise Lines and the V.I. Fire Service, arrived on the scene to tackle the flames.

It took several hours for the fire to be extinguished.

Huge dark clouds of smoke billowed high above the ship and were visible from a considerable distance. 

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Local news site St Thomas Source reported that the U.S. Coast Guard helped tow the yacht to a more remote location where crews continued to contain the blaze.

Fire Services also fought to eliminate the heavy smoke in the area - the result of burning fiberglass and other materials aboard the yacht.

Speaking to the site, West Indian Co. Ltd. President Joseph Boschulte praised the efforts of all emergency responders in handling the situation and revealed there had been no injuries.

'We at WICO are grateful that the quick response translated into containment of the fire with no loss of life or injury, nor adverse effect on any of the cruise ships in port or residents in the area.' 

Visible for miles around: Fire Services also fought to eliminate the heavy smoke in the area - the result of burning fiberglass and other materials aboard the yacht. There were no injuries

Local news site St Thomas Source reported that the U.S. Coast Guard helped tow the yacht to a more remote location where crews continued to contain the blaze

Boschulte continued, 'We remain mindful and vigilant of the value of emergency preparedness and cooperation. Our staff is regularly trained to respond to all manner of marine emergencies and our assistance in this emergency is testament to this commitment.'

It is not yet known what caused the fire. 

According to Boat International magazine, the yacht was originally called Pomboo and was built by Taiwan's Monte Fino yard in 2004.

It was designed to sleep up to seven guests in three large en-suite staterooms comprising a master suite, VIP stateroom and a twin. The saloon featured a marble bar, 3 piece sofa and a cocktail table.

There was also an open entertaining space, a dining area and a 'country kitchen' galley.

In June 2014 Florida yacht dealer Lazzara Lenton announced that the vessel was listed for sale by Michael DiCondia at Hargrave Yacht Sales at an asking price of $2,350,000 (£1.7million). It went on to be renamed Positive Energy.

With the cruise ship traffic and large tourist resorts, St Thomas is the most commercialized of the Virgin Islands. 

Huge blaze: The 77ft yacht, reportedly worth $2.5million, was moored in the Charlotte Amalie harbor on the island of St Thomas when the fire broke out

Extreme: Firefighters and police, as well as personnel from West Indian Co. Ltd, Norwegian Cruise Lines and the V.I. Fire Service, arrived on the scene to tackle the flames. It took hours for the fire to be extinguished

As she was: The yacht was sold in 2014 at an asking price of $2,350,000 (£1.7million) and renamed Positive Energy

• Burning yacht "Positive Energy" St Thomas USVI - YouTube

Share or comment on this article: US Virgin Islands video shows luxury yacht fire at Charlotte Amalie harbor

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Yacht fire believed to be most expensive blaze…

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Yacht fire believed to be most expensive blaze in fort lauderdale history.

Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel

A salvage worker from Sea Tow walks past one of the burned yachts at Universal Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.

The burned and collapsed scaffolding on one of the burned yachts is seen at Universal Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.

Fire continued to smolder onboard two mega-yachts in a Fort Lauderdale marina on Sunday as a crane operator worked feverishly to remove the scaffolding blocking firefighters from boarding the vessels.

The luxury yachts burst into huge flames early Saturday morning and now have sunk to the floor of the New River at Universal Marine Center where they had been undergoing restoration.

Fort Lauderdale Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan called the destruction of the yachts valued at $24 million “the biggest fire loss in Fort Lauderdale history.”

The cause of the fire is unknown, but both yachts had been docked side by side as they underwent painting and renovation work.

“We haven’t even begun the investigation yet,” Gollan said Sunday night as crews worked to put out spot fires.

Gollan said the fire began on the motor yacht Lohengrin built by Trinity Yachts, a 161-foot, custom-designed vessel with crew quarters that sleeps up to 10. Lohengrin has a $12 to $16 million estimated value. According to Gollan, the crew had been on the Lohengrin on Friday evening but left well before the fire broke out.

After the larger yacht caught fire, the northwest wind spread flames to the nearby Reflections, a 107-foot Christensen yacht with four staterooms, with an estimated value of $6 to $7 million.

Each yacht has a different owner.

An estimated 100 firefighters from several agencies were called out to the blaze at 2700 SW 25th Terrace about 4:40 a.m. Saturday. Cellphone video showed flames raging out of control and huge plumes of smoke billowing into the air. The fire was considered under control by 9 a.m. although smaller hotspots onboard continued to smolder throughout the day and evening.

Along with putting out the smolders, Gollan said the concern now is preventing fuel leakage into the river from the giant tanks of the large yachts. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency were on site Sunday to limit environmental damage and “control and contain contaminants into the water,” Gollan said.

“We have no active leaks as of this time.” Gollan said on Sunday evening.

The yachts are in shallow water at the bottom of the New River. Because of their sheer size and the relative shallow depth of the water, the yachts are not submerged.

Fire officials planned to let the spot fires cool overnight. “[Monday] morning we plan to go in with ourselves and other resources from ATF and begin our investigation,” Gollan said.

Investigators will scour video surveillance from the marina to determine if the fire was intentional. If it was accidental, the exact source of the fire may be difficult to pinpoint with the extent of damage, fire officials said.

“One of the larger concerns is how closely the yachts are docked together,” Gollan said, “Anytime boats are packed in a small area, strong winds can move flames from one to another.”

The battalion chief said this is a concern he raises during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as well. “Any time yachts are close together it makes them all more vulnerable if there is a fire. “

Chip McElroy, owner of the Reflections yacht, and his family members stood behind the yellow crime scene tape at the Fort Lauderdale marina Sunday morning, watching the salvage crew removing the enormous scaffolding used for painting which blocked the firefighters from fully putting out the fire.

McElroy, CEO of McElroy Manufacturing in Tusla, Okla., said he has owned the Reflections yacht for 3 1/2 years and has made many family trips in it to the Caribbean. His yacht is named Reflections, he said, “for all the blessings in our lives.”

Reflections had sailed only two weeks ago and was in the Fort Lauderdale marina for its annual repainting. “We were a week away from being out of here,” McElroy said, who refers to the current condition as a “total loss.”

The four crew members who live on the yacht had been staying at an Airbnb for the weekend while the Reflections underwent its final repainting. “We are grateful they were not on board,” McElroy said.

A longtime yacht owner, McElroy said he did not personally know the owner of the Lohengrin, where the fire appears to have originated.

According to Burgess Yachts, the Lohengrin was built in 2016 and sold in January to an Asian buyer.

Cindy Krischer Goodman can be reached at [email protected] , 954-356-4661, Twitter and Instagram @cindykgoodman

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80-foot luxury yacht in new bedford goes up in flames at pope's island marina.

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The owner of a luxury yacht suffered a multi-million-dollar loss after the 80-foot boat went up in flames at a New Bedford marina on Monday night.

New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger said the first call came in just after 5 p.m. with someone reporting smoke coming from the boat, which was at the Pope's Island Marina.

By the time crews arrived at the scene, a fire had broken out below the deck.

Firefighters encountered heavy flames and smoke, as the yacht was carrying 500 gallons of fuel, so crews had to use water and foam to battle the blaze.

In addition, the boat is made of fiberglass, which creates toxic fumes when it burns.

Kruger said a second alarm was struck and multiple crews from surrounding communities, including Fairhaven, responded to assist the New Bedford Fire Department. A crew from the United States Coast Guard also responded to the scene.

There are no reports of injuries, and it is unclear if anyone was onboard the yacht when the fire broke out.

Roads near the marina will be closed overnight as crews work to clean up the mess caused by the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Poker Player ‘The Lion’ Sees Luxury Yacht Burn and Sink in Mediterranean Blaze

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Consult a list of poker player’s luxury items and a popular choice among the European elite poker set might be a luxury yacht. After this weekend, that might not be the case, as Spanish player Diego Gomez Gonzalez’ luxury liner, which sleeps 20 people, sank off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea after catching fire and burning, with black smoke filing the sky.

Gonzalez Yacht Burns and Sinks

In what is a developing story, the 88-foot luxury yacht belonging to Spanish poker pro Diego Gomez Gonzalez burned to a crisp before sinking off the Mediterranean coast on Saturday. It is as yet unclear whether the owner of the yacht, Spanish poker professional Diego Gomez Gonzalez, was onboard at the time, but the yacht, which can hold 20 passengers and has 17 people on deck as it caught fire, sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday as the fire was unable to be put out.

While all 17 passengers who were onboard at the time made it safely to shore via rescue boats, one crew member did require medical treatment for minor burns at the scene. The cause of the fire, as well as if Gonzalez was on the vessel, remains unclear, but at around six in the evening on Saturday, near the Mediterranean island of Formentera, the yacht cause fire.

The blaze quickly spread and as black smoke billowed from the hull into the evening sky, everyone on board escaped from the craft and kept a safe distance. Unfortunately, it was too late to save the yacht, as the luxury liner burned with a ferocious intensity before sinking into the sea.

The boat’s five crew members and dozen passengers all escaped without serious injury in what could have been a much more dangerous incident had the fire consumed the vessel quicker than it already did. Thankfully, all 17 who were onboard got off safely, but the yacht itself will not sail again, sinking to the ocean floor. As restaurant-goers filmed the fire and helped passengers, all watched stunned as the boat went down off the Southeastern coast of Spain near Ibiza, where the vessel is commonly docked. The yacht, which costs around $50,000 to charter during peak summer months, was 28 years old, and featured luxury cabins and even an on-deck jacuzzi.

Who is Diego Gomez Gonzalez?

The Madrid-based poker professional Diego Gomez Gonzalez has won $492, 532 at the live felt, though perhaps oddly, hasn’t cashed in a live event since 2021 when he finished 66 th in a €550-entry event in his home city of the Spanish capital. Gonzalez’ biggest-ever win at the live felt was back in 2012 when he finished fifth in the European Poker Tour Main Event in Prague. Back then, Gonzalez won $256,189 in an event eventually won by Swedish player Ramzi Jelassi.

Currently sitting in 59 th place on the Spanish All-Time Money List for tournament results in ranking events, Gonzalez has hardly played since live poker returned after COVID. With three cashes in the 2020 WSOP Online series totalling $24,000, Gonzalez may not be playing poker for such a large amount of his professional time recently.

When he won his biggest score in Prague in that EPT Main Event, Gonzalez did so while wearing a full lion outfit. Thereafter, he earned the nickname – you guessed it – ‘The Lion’. Will Gonzalez to poker, presuming that he was chartering the yacht for others to use, or is he done for good with the game?

Next Stop Barcelona for ‘The Lion’?

If ‘The Lion’ does fancy playing poker as soon as he possibly can, then he might be eyeing up the European Poker Tour as it stops in Barcelona. Taking place between August 21 st and Spetember 3 rd , there will be millions up for grabs and the Spaniard could do a lot worse than planning a trip to the Catalan capital in Basque country.

EPT Barcelona will be hugely popular but recent omens don’t bode well for Spanish winners. Incredibly, of the 37 events that took place on the EPT 2022 schedule, only one side event with a €550 buy-in was won by a home country player, as Spanish poker player Sergio Leon claimed victory in the No Limit Hold’em event for just $17,510.

After the drama of his literal boat burning – viewable via the Daily Mail in this video that has gone around the world – surely the Lion will want to enter the ‘Mane’ Event with its €5,300 entry fee and possible life-changing money. Who knows what Gonzalez could buy with his winnings if he takes down the likely seven-figure top prize.

That sort of money could even stretch to something like a luxury yacht… or maybe not.

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Lurssen blaze burns crisis hit hull market

$700m claim heading marine insurance market’s way

Struggling underwriters are set to be hit with the biggest hull claim ever following a catastrophic fire at the Lurssen shipyard in Germany that destroyed a luxury yacht.

The fire which broke out Friday destroyed a 100-metre luxury yacht under construction at the yard.

The builders risk policy taken out in 2014 to the tune of $700m was shared between Lloyd’s syndicate underwriters and the non Lloyd’s market.

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$2.5 Million Luxury Yacht Floods, Capsizes off North Carolina Coast

Featured Solutions: Marine

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four crew members after a 60-foot luxury yacht flooded and overturned off the North Carolina coast recently, forcing them to abandon ship in a life raft, according to reports. The captain of the vessel later sent his thanks to the Coast Guard and locals, who he said were “absolutely amazing” in the Oct. 21 helicopter rescue.

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“It is definitely an extreme, almost worst-case scenario. Fortunately, no one was injured,” said Noah Wheeler, Broker, Marine, Burns & Wilcox , Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. “The ocean is super unpredictable, and it can be unforgiving. When you are out at sea, if something does go wrong, even something small, chances are it can be a really big problem.”

It is definitely an extreme, almost worst-case scenario. Fortunately, no one was injured. The ocean is super unpredictable, and it can be unforgiving.

The Moon Dragon, which featured six luxury cabins and natural teak hardwood floors, remained partially submerged as of Oct. 22. According to yacht charter company Ocean Getaways, charter prices for the yacht started at $58,000 per week, USA Today reported . The vessel is most likely a “total loss” under its Hull and Machinery Insurance, said Craig Anderson, Underwriter, Marine & Yacht, Burns & Wilcox, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

“When you are out to sea at that point, it is usually pretty much lost,” Anderson said. “It would likely be considered a total loss, and insurance could pay out the maximum of the hull value minus the deductible.”

‘Extremely high’ liability coverage often recommended for yachts

The Moon Dragon, which had been listed for sale in August for $2.49 million, was shown at the Annapolis Sailboat Show just days before the accident, Chesapeake Bay Magazine reported. While the cause of the yacht’s broken side hatches was not immediately clear, insurance companies generally require vessels to be evaluated every three years, Anderson said.

“The reports do not really state why or how it broke, but one key thing with any vessel is that the insurance companies do require a hull survey every three years to determine if it is seaworthy or not,” he said. “We do not know if it was surveyed recently, or it could have been an issue they did not know about and then became an issue out at sea before catastrophically going under.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division, flooding and swamping incidents were the third most common type of boating accident in 2022, causing 422 accidents, 74 deaths, and 93 injuries. In Canada, capsizing accidents were the most common cause of recreational boating-related fatalities between 2008 and 2017, causing 394 deaths, according to Canada’s Drowning Prevention Research Centre.

In addition to a vessel’s Hull and Machinery Insurance , which is designed to cover physical damage to the boat itself, an essential component of Marine Insurance for yachts is Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Insurance. This policy provides liability coverage for third-party bodily injuries and property damage, including legal defense and settlements, and it is often recommended that charter yacht companies carry as much coverage as possible — from $1 million up to $10 million, or even higher with an Excess Liability Insurance policy.

“[Hull and Machinery Insurance] covers the physical damage of the vessel, and then the P&I Insurance is the liability associated with it,” Wheeler said. “When you are running a charter operation, it is really important to have plenty of liability coverage.”

At a minimum, P&I Insurance limits should be equal to or greater than the value of the vessel. “Our practice is that whatever the hull value is, we want to either meet or exceed that in the liability. If it was a $1.5 million vessel, we want to insure it for at least $2 million in liability so there is no gap,” Anderson explained, adding that often in more “litigious” states like Florida, “as soon as an attorney gets involved, everybody is listed in the lawsuit.”

Typically, with yachts, Wheeler added, “the liability limits are extremely high,” and greater liability limits may be needed when the charter includes overnight operations. “We recommend having a high limit for captain charters — often $5 million,” Wheeler said. “When individuals rent the vessel for multiple days at a time and stay on it overnight, that makes it a lot harder of a risk to insure and a lot less appetizing for underwriters.”

While charters without a captain, known as bareboat charters, are offered by some companies, “usually with a 60-foot vessel, it would require a captain because of the size,” Anderson noted.

Consider crew liability, personal property coverage

A yachting company in Florida is currently facing a lawsuit from the family of a 20-year-old who died after jumping off a yacht and getting caught in a rip tide, People Magazine reported in October. The lawsuit accuses the company of negligence, alleging that the crew did not warn the victim about the risk of jumping in. P&I Insurance is also important for other types of charter boat operations, including fishing charters. In May, four individuals died in a fishing charter accident involving a 30-foot Kingfisher Charters vessel, Alaska Public Media reported.

“Anytime you are going to have fare-paying passengers on board, it is recommended to go with a minimum of $1 million [in P&I Insurance],” Anderson said.

Crew member liability should also be considered, according to Anderson. “That would be a separate coverage,” he said. “That would usually need to be requested by the owner of the vessel.”

As with any insurance coverage, he added, “I would recommend that they go through the policy wording and especially take a look at the exclusions to find out what they are covered for and not covered for.”

Anytime you are going to have fare-paying passengers on board, it is recommended to go with a minimum of $1 million [in P&I Insurance].

The risk of hull damage due to severe weather, fire and other property risks must also be considered when purchasing Marine Insurance for a yacht. In December of 2019, singer Marc Anthony’s $7 million yacht caught fire in Miami, Florida, Business Insider reported at the time. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused an estimated $300,000 in cleaning costs alone.

A yacht owner’s Hull and Machinery Insurance is “very similar to Homeowners Insurance,” Anderson said. The attached components are generally covered as part of the structure, and the contents would be under a separate deductible, he said. “However, a lot of companies would have a separate deductible for the electronics — including the GPS and radio,” he said, noting that some owners may need additional enhancements on their Hull and Machinery Insurance, such as coverage for fishing supplies.

Importance of emergency plans, pre-purchase inspections

According to an August report by Fortune, the percentage of wealthy individuals who are purchasing yachts has been decreasing since 2017, despite growth in the number of “super-rich” individuals worldwide. The economic downturn and rising interest rates have also caused more boat owners overall to consider selling their vessels, according to Anderson.

You just want to make sure that in any event, you have no gaps in coverage at all. You can have the peace of mind that if something happens, the insurance company will have your back.

“I am seeing a lot of owners now are selling their boats because they cannot afford it, they simply just do not want to use it anymore, or they no longer see it as a viable option for them,” he said. “When there is an economic downtown, the toys are usually the first thing that get cut.”

Although it was previously more difficult to access insurance coverage for these vessels, that appears to be changing, Anderson pointed out. “Now the insurance market is actually opening up, offering some relief in the boating insurance industry,” he said.

Risk management will always be paramount for charter companies and individual boat owners, who are encouraged to be prepared with emergency procedures and provide safety briefings for all passengers, including information on life rafts, life preservers, following Coast Guard rules and more. “Education is always key,” Anderson said. “Passengers should have some sort of understanding that in the event something happens, these are the steps we are going to take.”

Insuring a massive yacht is not like insuring a Toyota Camry. Things can go wrong, and if it does go wrong, the next thing you know you may be on national news.

Pre-purchase inspections are always recommended, he added. “Anytime you purchase a vessel, get a pre-purchase survey and make sure that you know what you are buying,” he said. In addition, when it comes to purchasing Marine Insurance, “you just want to make sure that in any event, you have no gaps in coverage at all. You can have the peace of mind that if something happens, the insurance company will have your back,” he said.

Yacht owners should understand the importance of Marine Insurance and take time to read their policies in full. “Insuring a massive yacht is not like insuring a Toyota Camry,” Wheeler said. “Things can go wrong, and if it does go wrong, the next thing you know you may be on national news.”

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Fire guts historic California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey

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Firefighters worked overnight Monday to extinguish a blaze that erupted at a historic yacht club in Marina del Rey.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 11:30 p.m. Monday for a structure fire at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way, said Fred Fielding, a Fire Department spokesperson.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and fire engulfing the two-story building, fire officials said.

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Video from news outlets showed large flames consuming the structure as smoke billowed overhead. Multiple firetrucks and firefighters were called in to help contain the blaze.

Two firefighters suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital, Fielding said. The extent of their injuries and their status was not immediately known.

The blaze was knocked down just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Jeremy Stafford, supervising fire dispatcher at the L.A. County Fire Department.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Stafford said.

The California Yacht Club was started in 1922 by yachtsman from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs, according to the club’s website .

Representatives for the club did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Alexandra E. Petri covers trends and breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She previously covered live news at the New York Times. A two-time reporting fellow with the International Women’s Media Foundation, she graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and international studies.

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