Businessman Sued For $2 Million After Grounding A Luxury Yacht

A business owner whose luxury yacht reportedly ran aground and leaked diesel fuel into the waters off the Hawaiian island of Maui last month is getting sued for over $2 million in terms of damages that sold him the vessel by a trust.

The lawsuit filed on Monday in the US District Court based in Honolulu seeks about $1.45 million for yacht loss, which was supposed to be paid off over 15 years, per The Maui News.

It seeks about $500,000 for salvage activity and at least $500,000 for environmental impairment.

Kevin and Kimberly Albert, the trustees associated with a Trust based in New Mexico, filed a lawsuit reportedly against Jim Jones and the ship captain. It mentions that Jones and his firm used the vessel extremely negligently for one of many personal trips without seeking the trust’s approval.

The 94-foot yacht dubbed Nakoa happened to run aground in Honolua Bay on 20 February after the mooring line snapped.

Private contractors then towed the vessel to the sea, where it reportedly sank in approximately 800 feet of water on 5 March.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to bill Jones for the $460,000 cost of salvaging the boat. It’s considering fines after an episode of damaged coral reef.

The lawsuit mentions that Jones notified the trust following the grounding that he’d taken out the yacht for personal use.

It reports that Yacht Charters has breached a purchase agreement that holds the buyer responsible for any risks of loss or damages. The agreement further highlighted operations, crew members’ needs, and restricted uses.

A phone message left for the yacht Charters wasn’t returned immediately. The firm’s website mentions that it’s no more operational.

The firm told The Maui News in February 2022 that this family retreat had an unfortunate ending.

References: Bloomberg, Wacotrib, My Northwest