An $8 million luxury yacht that partially capsized in Chesapeake Bay July 27 was finally raised and moved to New Jersey Aug. 31, Coast Guard officials said.
The 104’ motor yacht LoveBug, a 37.3-meter vessel built in 2010 by Sanlorenzo, was underway off Beverly Beach, Md., when it began to list and the captain steered toward shore, according to local news media reports. The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan boat operator responded to a VHF radio distress call, and five persons on board got off safely.
Coast Guard officials said there was no pollution from the accident or recovery operation. Hillside, N.J.-based Donjon Marine used its Farrell 256 barge crane during the salvage, and moved the LoveBug north to Delaware Bay where shipyard facilities are at Dorchester, N.J.
The Coast Guard and Maryland state authorities monitored the month-long salvage operation and final transit. The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to the Coast Guard.
The incident attracted much attention in the international yacht charter and marketing sector. Industry publications reported the LoveBug was last sold in 2021 for nearly $8 million.
