Overturned Yacht Cause, Estimated Damage Revealed In Anne Arundel County

SHADY SIDE, MD — The cause and damage toll of a mega-yacht's partial sinking last summer in Anne Arundel County was announced recently.

Investigators determined that the 122-foot vessel named Lovebug sustained $8 million in damage when it flipped on its side and took on water in July 2024, north of Shady Side.

The cause was "undetected flooding through an open watertight door, resulting in the vessel losing stability," the National Transportation Safety Board said in its final report issued this July 15.

The yacht had an interior garage that held personal watercraft. This space opened to launch those smaller vessels from the yacht into the water. The garage was not designed to be a watertight space. Forward of this garage was a watertight door that led to the engine room.

"During diving operations, salvors found that this external garage door was partially open," the NTSB said. "Salvors also found the watertight door between the garage and engine room compartment open."

The captain told investigators he saw that the external door to the garage housing the personal watercraft was closed before departure. The captain also reported that he inspected the engine room once underway and saw nothing unusual.

Yank Marine Services, a boatyard in Dorchester, New Jersey, housed the Lovebug after it was removed from the water.

The Lovebug was placed into the water this Sunday and was taken to Wilmington, Delaware with the assistance of Northstar Marine. From there, Yank Marine said the yacht would be transported to Turkey.

Yank Marine shared these photos and this video of the Lovebug leaving its boatyard.

The Lovebug's partial sinking happened on July 27, 2024, while it was transiting the Chesapeake Bay. It departed the Annapolis Yacht Basin at 11:30 a.m. and started listing, or tilting, heavily starboard at 12:35 p.m. while on the West River.

The yacht soon after capsized on its starboard side. The NTSB said the boat had listed over about 45 to 50° and grounded in the mud, visibly down by the stern.

The four crewmembers and one owner on board abandoned the vessel and hopped in the water less than four minutes after the listing started. Nearby Good Samaritans rescued the boaters in distress.

The Lovebug, a 2010 San Lorenzo yacht, partially sank in about 12 feet of water. One minor injury was reported.

The yacht remained stuck in the West River for 16 days while officials developed a salvage plan.

Crews used a boom to contain an oil sheen visible around the vessel.

The NTSB's full investigative report is available here.

Related:

• Overturned $7M Mega-Yacht Salvage Plan In The Works In Chesapeake Bay
• Yacht Overturns On Rhode River Near Edgewater: Report