It was a shocking sight to many on the Bay over the weekend: a 122-foot-long yacht, laying on its side in a high-traffic part of the West River.
Now, towboat operators are making a plan to remove the superyacht from its unfortunate resting place.
The superyacht Lovebug, which had been spotted docked in Annapolis earlier in the week and on the move in the Bay, partially capsized at the mouth of the West River around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) responded to reports of a vessel taking on water.
Fellow boaters said they heard the call on VHF Channel 16, but had no idea it was referring to a 122-foot-yacht.
When Natural Resources Police arrived, they found five people on board. Police tell us they included a captain, three crew members and one passenger. All five were transported to shore safely and didn’t need any medical treatment.
The Coast Guard also responded to the incident.
NRP is investigating the cause of the incident and a spokesman says they “cannot confirm any speculation at this time,” despite plenty of theories about whether the yacht was intentionally grounded after taking on water. The vessel draws eight feet, and the river channel is known to drop off quickly.
Now, TowBoatUS Annapolis is making a plan for salvage. Company spokesperson Christine Plummer tells Chesapeake Bay Magazine, “We will approach the planning and execution with care for the environment and care for the owner’s property.”
They are still planning and have not yet released a timeline for removing the yacht.
In the meantime, TowBoatUS asks boaters to steer clear. “24-hour security is in place and we ask boaters to not approach and to pass at slow-bell,” says Plummer.
Word of the capsized superyacht spread quickly among Anne Arundel County boaters who passed by the scene. The vessel is a head-turner, so many had checked it out earlier in Annapolis and on the Bay. CBM follower David Driftmier sent us this “before” shot of the Lovebug docked on Spa Creek (within view of the Chesapeake Bay Magazine offices).
According to a previous listing for the boat, the Lovebug is an Italian boat built by Sanlorenzo in 2010 and updated in 2017. It sleeps 11 guests in five staterooms and can accomodate seven or eight crewmembers. It boasts zero speed stabilizers, a flybridge sundeck with Jacuzzi, tender/jet ski garage, and a full-beam master stateroom with a full bean master bath and owner’s office.
We continue to follow this developing story and will update it as we learn more from investigators.
