It seems to be a bad day for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. The businessman and marine conservationist is in hot water after his yacht ploughed into a coral reef in the Caribbean, destroying 80 percent of the protected ecosystem.
Paul Allen has invested in Vulcan, an organization that aims to reduce the human impact on the environment, specifically on local watersheds and marine habitats, so you can just imagine how unseemly the incident involving his 300-foot yacht, MV Tatoosh, is.
Marine officers accused Tatoosh of destroying a coral reef on Jan. 14 in the Cayman Islands, which has been protected for the past three decades. The yacht ruined 14,000 square feet of coral reef in the West Bay replenishment zone. Allen, however, was not aboard the ship during the incident.
"When its crew was alerted by a diver that her anchor chain may have impacted coral in the area, the crew promptly, and on their own accord, relocated their position to ensure the reef was protected," says Vulcan.
The ship's company and crew are currently working with local authorities to determine the details of the incident. Local authorities have also initiated an investigation.
Department of Environment Deputy Director Scott Slaybaugh says the maximum fine for the incurred damage is about $600,000, which does not include civil damages. Allen and his crew are coordinating with the authorities at the moment.
According to Forbes, 63-year-old Paul Allen has net worth of $17.4 billion. Recently, he developed conservation projects like the Paul G. Allen Ocean Challenge, which funds research on reducing the effects of ocean acidification and restoring major coral reefs on Earth. Allen is a global leader in supporting ocean health, coral reef conservation and reduction in climate change-related ocean effects.
"[We are] paying close attention to lessons learned so that we can more effectively prevent these accidents while still hosting visiting yachts," says a spokesperson for the Cayman Islands' Department of Environment.
MV Tatoosh contains many helicopter pads, a swimming pool, a movie theater, a basketball court and 35 crew members. The giant yacht is about 300 feet long.
Photo : Peter Baker | Flickr
