Malfunction caused a 236 ft superyacht to crash into a Caribbean yacht club pier. The yacht is owned by the Capri Sun billionaire tycoon Hans Peter Wild, 79
The following written content from Niamh Cavanagh
This is the shocking moment a 72 metre superyacht smashes into a luxury Caribbean yacht club’s pier after a “computer malfunction”.
The superyacht, worth $118 million, was caught on video slowly crashing into the dock, in Simpson Bay, Saint Maarten last week.
Superyacht Go, which is fitted with a helipad, a steam room, a swimming pool and its own hospital, ploughed into the wooden pier, breaking apart the wooden jetty and a concrete wall.
In one video, an onlooker can be heard saying “oh my God” repeatedly as the vessel crashed into the pier.
The captain of Go was attempting to leave the Simpson Bay Lagoon at Ile de Sol Marina at 10.15am on Wednesday when the crash happened.
It is believed that the cause of the crash had to do with a “computer malfunction” and when the superyacht was being towed out of the marina, a huge gouge was spotted on the side of the vessel.
It is not yet known how much it will cost to repair the dock or the superyacht but a manager for the yacht club told the Mail Online that it could take months.
St Maarten Yacht Club’s dock has been closed until further notice.
A notice posted on its website on Wednesday read: “As most of you will have heard by now, this morning an accident occurred with a mega yacht.
“They lost control over the vessel and hit the dock of the St Maarten Yacht Club.
“Nobody was injured and the damage is solely structural, however, it is very significant.
“We are currently assessing the extent of the damage to make a plan to rebuild.”
St Maarten Yacht Club General Manager Michele Korteweg told the Daily Herald: “If the piles supporting the structure are still solid and stable, it should be easier to rebuild.
“If that’s not the case we will have to replace the piles which could take months.
“But in the meantime, we will come up with a temporary solution in order to be operational as quick as possible, at least at the minimum to connect the wooden accessway to the concrete dock.” Read more from News