Anacortes, Wash.-based boatbuilder Northern Marine, commented on the disastrous May 18 launch of a new custom 90-foot expedition yacht.
During the launch of the $10 million yacht, named Baden and built for an owner who planned to circumnavigate the globe, the boat capsized onto its port side and settled to the bottom of the launch area.
Six people aboard escaped serious injury, but one man was trapped inside and had to be cut out through the hull. The Coast Guard is investigating the accident.
“Since the casualty, there has been much speculation as to what happened, often with little or no supporting evidence,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “Northern Marine has launched more than 35 vessels, ranging from 57- to 151-foot motoryachts, with all of its trawler models having been launched using transport dollies at the same ramp where the accident occurred on the 18th. Northern Marine continues to have complete confidence in its trawler designs, all of which have been tank-tested and passed the same United States Coast Guard stability standards applied to commercial fishing vessels operating in the North Pacific.”
Click here for the full report with video of the ill-fated launch.
