The 27 metre superyacht Neeveen has been refloated 12 days after running aground in Granada, Spain.
According to local news reports, the luxury yacht ran aground on February 9 after an engine room failure during a trip from Marbella to Aguadulce, which forced Neeveen to veer off course towards the coastline. The yacht sustained damage to her hull after landing on the rocks of Carchuna beach and the crew were trapped for five hours before being freed by rescue services.
Local rescue agency Salvamento Marítimo has been working to remove the 67-tonne vessel from the shore and drain its 6,700 litres of fuel. Salvage efforts were delayed due to high winds but the stricken vessel has now successfully been refloated using pressure balloons attached to its exterior. Neeveen was towed to Motril port and hauled out of the water to assess the damage.
According to online media outlet SUR in English, Neeveen is likely to be put up for auction or scrapped as neither the owner nor the insurance company has come forward to pay for the salvage operation.
Neeveen was built in the Netherlands by Van Mill and delivered in 1986, with an exterior penned by Antonio Maggini with naval architecture by Mulder Design.