The 24.9-metre Azimut motor yacht Runaway remains inactive following her grounding off the coast of Culebra, Puerto Rico last year (30 December 2024).
According to eyewitnesses, the incident was caused by a collision with a reef, breaching the stern and causing Runaway to take on water. The two guests were transported to Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, while the two crew remained to monitor flooding and coordinate recovery efforts with the owner and Coast Guard.
The salvage is now actively underway, with approximately 160 gallons of fuel and lubricant removed from the yacht and donated to a local fishing village. The Coast Guard is now preparing to refloat and recover the hull.
The reef is the habitat of three species of endangered coral, as well as sea turtles and manatees. As a result, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been invited as a consultant for the salvage to reduce any further damage to the "surrounding sensitive marine environment".
"Once the vessel is successfully refloated, it will be moved north to calmer water and a sand bottom area in Bahia Linda in Culebra, where the necessary patchwork will be completed," read a statement from the Coast Guard. "Then, the vessel will be towed to a destination where full repairs can be completed."
BOAT International will update the story as it progresses.