Paul Allen's mega-yacht blamed for destroying coral reef

Or if you'd like to read a somewhat better written article: National Geographic - Billionaire Conservationist's Yacht Damages Coral Reef

While I'd put more faith in anything NatGeo would write vs. anything FOX would, I still find it hard to believe a dragged anchor would damage 14,000 square feet of reef before anyone noticed.

I didn't bother to read the link but 14,000 sq ft is a relatively small area in the context of a mega yacht swinging on the hook.

Fox owns National Geographic. Faith no more?

I think you have consider the area a dragging chain could damage as the vessel swings at anchor.

Yes I know, but I'd wager the hiring standards are higher. Just read the two articles and the difference is clear.

Here is a good local Editorial on the situation.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2016/01/27/editorial-equal-environmental-justice-for-everyone/
Seems like this is not the first time the Port Authority has mis directed a vessel to anchor in the wrong place.
There is a bit of difference in the headlines between the two mentioned articles.

Very thoughtful and insightful piece of writing.

Very refreshing, restores faith that the populists don't always get the last word.

what's a Tatoosh ?? sounds a little risque.

Tatoosh is the name of a small island at the entrance to the Straight of Juan De Fuca in Washington.

And other places including a distillery, lakes, mountains, and a wilderness area.

It could also be the sound made by throwing a heavy object over the side.

I think for the heavy object one there would be a few more ooo's in it

Could one dragged anchor really cause that much havoc?

If you perhaps anchored at 7:1 and then you swung 360, that's a lot of area without even dragging. Vulcan claims the reports of the damage are "greatly exaggerated." Just that statement tells me there is damage and the only real issue is how much and what Allen will have to pay.

While I have no respect for those who knowingly damage coral reefs, I do feel for those who do so without intent and I imagine in their case even some effort not to.

I do have one question. I would assume they have excellent sonar on that boat. Wouldn't that properly used have told them they were not in a good spot?

Not necessarily, with sonar, you'll only see a slight rise on the seafloor, maybe a foot a lot of times which could also just be a ledge. How do you pay for a coral reef anyways, and how is a monetary fine going to fix anything?

The Port Authority told them to anchor there, the Port Authority should be the ones liable.

Actually it can be reattached. I'm not saying this one will be. However, an interesting story is the USS Royal, a Navy ship running aground in Hawaii. Supposedly they spent $40 million on ship repairs and $7 million on repairing the coral reef. As part of that they sent scuba divers who reattached more than 5,000 broken coral colonies.

USS Port Royal, she just came out of the yard after a year + refit. Supposedly the gps, radar repeaters and sounder were all broken when she went aground.

https://www.csaocean.com/portfolio/...royal-grounding-assessment-coral-reattachment