The Viva yacht, known as an active Feadship luxury vessel delivered in 2021, experienced a bit of inactivity at Fort Lauderdale on September 10th. The vessel, with a top speed of 20.0 knots, was caught in a state of inertia due to the massive luxury yacht being lodged against the bridge. A video of the 308-foot pleasure craft, named Motoryacht of the Year in 2022, shows the pearly white hull practically stuck to the bridge with barely any space for air to pass through. It doesn’t take a genius to guess that this unwanted attachment likely caused some damage, though it is difficult to confirm from the video.
According to the Instagram account Headhunterspearfish, which shared the clip, the Viva superyacht was parked at the 17th Street Bridge in Fort Lauderdale. However, points will be deducted for the navigation skills, as it clearly wasn’t maintaining a safe distance from the bridge. There is no information on how the yacht ended up in this position or whether it caused any damage to the bridge. Some crew members can be seen standing on the bridge, observing the situation. It is also unclear if the owner or his family members were on board at the time.
Interestingly, this is the same Feadship vessel that made headlines when photographer Tom van Oossanen captured images of it being transported from its Kaag Island facility to the North Sea in Rotterdam in 2021. Motoryacht Viva is 44 feet wide at her widest point and skillfully navigated through the 46-foot-wide canal sections of the narrow waterway. It is indeed astonishing to see the same pleasure craft lodged against a bridge when there appears to be ample space around.
Viva, an absolute ‘wow’ yacht –
Formerly known as Project 817, it boasts exterior design by Studio De Voogt and interiors by Peter Marino. It was designed with environmental impact in mind and is equipped with an advanced hybrid propulsion system that allows Viva to cruise comfortably at 12 knots on diesel-electric power.
‘The 308-footer accommodates 14 guests across seven cabins, serviced by a crew of 18. The seventh-largest yacht ever constructed by Feadship, it is also one of the most environmentally friendly luxury vessels of its kind. Powered by twin 3,916-horsepower MTU engines, the ship boasts a maximum speed of 20 knots.
The $250 million floating mansion is believed to be owned by Frank Fertitta III, who, according to Forbes, is worth $3.3 billion. He comes from a wealthy family that owns a casino business. Frank and his brother Lorenzo became so passionate about martial arts after taking weekly lessons in their casino’s basement that they bought the mixed martial arts promoter UFC for $2 million in 2001. They turned the almost bankrupt venture into a household name and eventually sold it, making a 2,000x return.
The brothers also share an affinity for superyachts, with Lorenzo owning a $160 million yacht named Lonian. His brother’s even larger vessel Viva is grand and gorgeous, featuring amenities such as a formal dining area, cinema, gym, beauty salon, and a helipad for quick entries and exits.
According to Vessel Finder, the vessel is currently in the Port of Savannah after leaving Fort Lauderdale, presumably with only a few scratches and bumps, if any.
