Damaged sailboat is the flagship of the Benetti Blue Gold more than 3.5 years lying on the beach
Blue Gold is the largest sailing vessel built by Benetti. Water 50-foot boat was launched in 1982. Five cabins could accommodate 12 guests.
In 2012 for tax evasion, the yacht was arrested, the government of Vanuatu
(Melanesia, Pacific ocean). Blue Gold was involved in
investigation. Its owner, a Dutch investor and the host Begemann Group Joop van den Nieuwenhuizen (Joep van den Nieuwenhuyzen), allegedly owed her team a significant amount.
In March 2015, the boat was damaged and beached, when
the region weathered the cyclone “pam”. Since then the ship and is abandoned on
the reefs near the village of Sonae on the island of Moso.
Blue Gold is dangerous for the reef and the environment. Potentially, it
can cause damage to the entire harbour Havanna. Last summer
local residents asked the government to remove her from the reef. But
due to legal issues Blue Gold is still on its place. In 2006, van den Nieuwenhuyzen was convicted of fraud, and, although later the appellate court reversed this decision, this still creates additional problems when you attempt to Vanuatu authorities to interact with its property.
