Gas tanker hit by super-yacht sinks off New Providence

As of Tuesday, December 28, 2021

A GAS tanker sank off the coast of New Providence on Friday after it was “rear-ended” by a 207-foot super yacht.

In a statement issued last night, the Ministry of Transport and Housing said the Attorney General’s Office has been consulted for legal guidance on the incident.

THE UTOPIA IV YACHT.

“The Port Department has begun a formal investigation into the incident, and the Department of Environmental Health is also conducting a review of the environmental impact. These activities are currently underway,” the ministry said.

According to a statement issued from Maritime Management LLC, which managed the ship M/T Tropic Breeze, the vessel was struck at 10.03pm on Christmas Eve by the M/Y Utopia IV approximately 15 miles NNW of New Providence.

Maritime Management said the 160-foot tanker was traveling on its proper watch en route to Great Stirrup Cay when it was rear-ended by the 207-foot super yacht.

“The catastrophic force of the collision pierced the stern of the tanker causing the tanker to sink to the ocean floor at an estimated depth of 2,000 feet,” the company said.

The crew of the Tropic Breeze were uninjured, have been rescued and safely returned to a company-owned facility on shore.

The company said the tanker's cargo included all “non-persistent materials” – LPG, marine gas and automotive gas – “all of which are lighter than water and will evaporate if exposed to surface air.”

The statement added that the vessel, which is registered in Belize, was recently inspected in December of this year “and was found by the authorities to be fully compliant with all national and international safety and vessel integrity standards.”

“Due to the depth of the ocean at the location of the sinking, it has been determined that the tanker cannot be safely salvaged,” the company said.

Maritime Management said the relevant Bahamian authorities have been notified. The company said it is working with local and international maritime authorities and marine experts “to ensure best outcomes with minimal environmental impact.”

“Maritime Management has expressed its sincere gratitude to Bahamian authorities for their support and assistance throughout this incident and are particularly grateful to the crew of the M/Y Mara who responded to the Tropic Breeze's distress call and rescued all seven crew members on board the sinking tanker,” the company said.

An update will be provided upon completion of the local investigation, the Ministry of Transport said.

The Utopia IV is a high-power yacht designed and built by Italy’s Rossinavi in 2018. The Italian designers report 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. It is unclear what the speed of the yacht was at the time of the collision and if it was operating with passengers on a charter.

The yacht is listed for sale at $51 million.

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 10 months ago

ran into a tanker?? these stories are getting weirder by the day. Are we running a real life James Bond movie with hitmen, intl money men, corrupt local authorities all on a tiny caribbean island and super yachts involved in high seas drama as the icing on top?

Were they all high? Who doesnt see a gas tanker? Carnival, Griffin, Tanker... weird stories and more than meets the eyeperhaps

whogothere 2 years, 10 months ago

LOL how the f*** !? Not funny seriously how on earth did this happen.. ??!

TalRussell 2 years, 10 months ago

Slow down as youse read, how UK Colony's Maritime Management said, de 160-foot Gas Tanker was travelin' on its proper watch en route to Great Stirrup Cay, when it was rear-ended by de in Command of de 207-foot super yacht and everything else like this and that including de Tanker's gas cargo, might've just been en route for Great Stirrup Cay to refuel its polluting up seawaters and beaches cruise industry, ― Yes?

John 2 years, 10 months ago

LEAST WE FORGET: ‘ At around 1 AM local time, Captain Miller of the United Star left the wheel to use the bathroom. The Sea Hauler was on collision course with the United Star but was unaware of the other vessel due, Captain Russell, said, to their being no lights showing aboard the United Star.

Although both skippers took last-minute evasive action, it was too late, and the United Star’s port, or left bow, smashed into the port quarter, or stern, of the Sea Hauler. The consequences were tragic: four persons were crushed to death when the crane toppled on them, another man lost his leg below the knee, and 25 persons were injured.

In the aftermath both vessels tied up alongside each other, several of the worst wounded were evacuated by US Coast Guard helicopters and Royal Bahamas Defense Force craft several hours after the accident. Some passengers may have continued on to Cat Island on other vessels. The situation was at times chaotic, though sea conditions were said to be calm and clear.’

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 10 months ago

Thats what they "said". Was that the holiday cruise to regatta or was that another incident?

In any event I'd expect a yacht to have a pretty fancy radar system and a pretty fancy well paid and experienced captain who wouldnt just leave the ship unattended... Im guessing a radar system would detect large objects within a certain distance of the ship so as to avoid surprises.... but what do I know.. maybe one was operating with stealth technology

John 2 years, 10 months ago

‘ M/V Sea Hauler, served Cat Island, as a mail boat, collided with M/V United Star in Aug. 2003, 4 killed, 25 injured’

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 10 months ago

Regatta weekend?

John 2 years, 10 months ago

Yes it was Regatta weekend and it pretty much brought an end to the smaller, independent mailboats setting off, loaded with passengers for Family Island Regattas. The larger fast ferries took over. They are supposedly more regulated, more managed and more insured.

alleycat 2 years, 10 months ago

The criminal part of this tale is that the Utopia DID NOT STOP TO RESCUE THE CREW OF THE TANKER. Whoever was captain on the Utopia should lose his or her license and go straight to jail.

B_I_D___ 2 years, 10 months ago

I'm kinda guessing that whoever the captain is/was is no longer gainfully employed.

JokeyJack 2 years, 10 months ago

The captain of the yacht was probably busy adjusting his mask properly in an effort the save lives. The loss of the tanker is a small price to pay by comparison.

Sickened 2 years, 10 months ago

I'm guessing that the Utopia was scared of sinking as well so she ran full speed to some shallow water? But yes, it is terrible that they left the crew of a sinking boat to fend for themselves.

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 10 months ago

Asking. is it possible for a captain of a yacht with what looks to be a pretty fancy radar system at the tippy top of that pic, not to detect a very large vessel within 15mins of it? Would a captain leave a vessel unmanned for more than 15mins? How many persons can take the wheel of a super yacht to avoid it being unmanned? Whats the protocol? This story is at the other end of the unbelievable scale as the "robbery"

TalRussell 2 years, 10 months ago

How is we stop worry when its now left to UK Colony's crown minister of housing to delve into how was it that a 205-foots of luxury fiberglass was capable after it rear ended a rugged tribble times reinforced steel haul gas carrying tanker with such destructive force, have sent sinking a 160-foot with Gas as her cargo tanker that was traveling on its proper watch en route to Great Stirrup Cay, down into sea waters, yet its luxury fiberglass, still manage wiggle its stern like cat's ass with nine-lives, to power off, far away from sinking hunk steel and and crew aboard and everything else like this and that, considering how busy house minister portfolio done is with how cancel Minnis's pet 2021 election campaign vote bribing subdivision for de 200 upcoming of society's elite younger age voting ones, ― Yes?

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