Megayacht Attessa IV Involved in Fatal Collision with Fishing Vessel Off Southern California

File photo: Patrick Lawson / MarineTraffic.com

The 332-foot megayacht Attessa IV was involved in a collision with a 65-foot sport fishing vessel off the coast of Southern California near the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday night, resulting in multiple injuries and one fatality.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it medevaced one injured person via helicopter and rescued additional seventeen passengers from the sportfisher Prowler following the collision near the maritime boundary line.

The crew of the Attessa IV contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego’s Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders at approximately 7:50 p.m. reporting a collision with the Prowler approximately nine miles offshore of Imperial Beach.

The collision reportedly resulted in extensive damage to the starboard quarter of the Prowler.

Crews arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 p.m. A Jayhawk crew hoisted a critically injured passenger and returned to Sector San Diego where awaiting EMS took the man to UC San Diego Medical Center – Hillcrest in critical condition.

Fox10 News reported Sunday that the man had died.

The crew of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium transferred another 17 passengers from the Prowler, including two reporting injuries, and took them to Sector San Diego.

The Prowler’s remaining ten passengers were transferred to the Attessa IV and taken to San Diego, while the captain remained aboard the Prowler.

The USCGC Sea Otter remained on-scene with the Prowler while awaiting commercial salvage.

The Prowler was reportedly returning from a fishing trip when the collision occurred.

The exact cause of the collision is under investigation.

The Attessa IV is owned by self-made billionaire Dennis Washington. Washington owns Washington Companies, which is parent to Seaspan ULC (former Seaspan Marine Corporation). Reports said the yacht sustained some minor damage to its bow in the collision. The vessel was at anchor in San Diego Bay as of Monday. 

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