Superyachts are making the most of the summer and have come out to play, but with more vessels cruising around picturesque locales, news of collisions, sinkings, and accidents has also increased. The phase of motor yachts becoming a magnet for misfortune continues as the latest accident took place in Bodrum Bay, Turkey, involving the 295-foot Lürssen superyacht Ice and the 102-foot motor yacht A. Mey. Videos of the catastrophe have been circulating all over social media and news portals, showing the mighty Ice hurtling toward the much smaller vessel built by Numarine in Turkey.
The incident occurred on a bright sunny day with no visibility issues due to the rudders of the pleasure craft getting locked. It was once owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, known to be the alleged owner of motor yacht Amadea. The accident happened in the Bodrum district of Muğla in the evening leading to absolute chaos on the smaller A.Mey, designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 suites.
The group occupying the vessel, owned by Okan University Board of Trustees Vice President Işıl Okan Gülen, was terrified as a loud, intimidating thud gave their boat a jolt to remember. Per Sözcü, the adults rushed to the deck to assess the situation while little children, frightened as expected, wailed in fear.
The $127 million Ice superyacht is an example of great shipbuilding and was the first yacht to have Azipod drive units instead of conventional shafted diesels. The 2,870 GT vessel, built with the goal of having the lowest possible levels of noise and vibration, gave the 179 GT yacht a jolt that will be remembered for a long time to come.
The $127 million Ice superyacht is known for its unparalleled luxuries like five opulent bathtubs carved out of such large solid blocks that the entire yacht was reportedly built around, its technical prowess, and interiors made impressive using neutral materials like limestone.
Other vessels in the vicinity were quick to act and fled, but it was an unlucky day for the luxury yacht A. Mey, which suffered major damage at the stern. Fortunately, everyone was safe and unscathed. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
Only last month, Steve Jobs’ superyacht Venus collided with the fabulous Lady Moura yacht, but it is worth noting that these vessels were not drastically different in size. The 1,876 GT Venus yacht, worth $140 million, rammed into the Mexican billionaire’s $250 million superyacht. In another instance, a $20 million vessel, the 112-foot Benetti Oasis boat named Opus, collided with a dock in St. Tropez. Still, structural damage seems preferable to the mental distress that the family would have experienced aboard the A. Mey yacht.
