An independent naval architect reported that a 90-foot vessel that overturned during its launch, and subsequently went viral on video, was stable.
The boat was subjected to a stability review by the independent architect, who found the boat was properly ballasted for her launching condition, said Andy McDonald, the owner of New World Yachts, which bought the rights to do business as then-bankrupt Northern Marine in 2012, according to both buyer and seller.
The incident occurred while the boat was still mostly out of the water, he said.
“One thing I feel pretty strongly about is the term capsize,” McDonald told Trade Only Today. “The boat did not capsize. It was not floating. It tipped over. It was involved in an accident.”
“Our naval architect has 30 years of experience; it was a launching accident,” McDonald said. “It had nothing to do with flotation of the vessel or the design. It’s not uncommon to have complications at launch. It’s just unfortunate when it results in a sinking.”
A full investigation is underway, McDonald said.
