Mega-yacht causes extensive damage to Cayman Islands reef

By Tusankine English On Jan 31, 2016

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CNS) — An anchor chain on the 300-foot mega-yacht, the MV Tatoosh, owned by billionaire Paul Allen, has destroyed almost 14,000 sq. ft of reef in a Cayman Islands replenishment zone, the Department of Environment confirmed following a survey of the area.

MV Tatoosh in the harbour at La Rochelle

DoE officials said more than 80 per cent of the coral in the area has been damaged by the luxury boat’s chain. Local divers conducted an in-water survey of the coral reef damage last week and the DoE expects to publish the detail findings next week.

Early findings already indicate extensive damage and investigations into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing, with the assistance of staff aboard the Microsoft billionaire’s superyacht, officials said.