The Recovery of a 76’ Horizon
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in October 2024, the waterways of Florida’s Gulf Coast were left with significant storm damage and vessel casualties displaced all over. Months later, a 76’ Horizon yacht remained. The vessel had broken free during the storm, drifted a couple of miles and was hard aground against the John Ringling Bridge in Sarasota Bay. Due to the scale of the operation and the level of expertise required, TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale was hired to recover the vessel in February of 2025.
The initial phase of the operation was a critical one. Before any equipment was mobilized, TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale coordinated with federal, state and local agencies such as NOAA, FWC and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to ensure the recovery could proceed safely and in full compliance with all regulations. Sunshine 811, a utility locating services was contacted to confirm that no underground cables, pipelines or other utilities were present in the surrounding area that could be impacted during the recovery.
The next priority was environmental protection and vessel stabilization. The yacht had sustained damage to the hull from being hard aground on rocks and up against the bridge structure. Before any movement could occur, our team addressed compromised sections of the hull to make sure it was water tight. With the vessel secured and environmental risks mitigated, we developed a plan to unground the vessel safely without causing additional damage to the yacht, bridge and surrounding marine environment.
Given the vessel’s position a crane barge and excavator were mobilized and used to carefully dig a trench along the starboard side of the yacht. This allowed the yacht to gradually slide into the trench and become free of the bridge. Once the vessel was cleared of the bridge, a second trench was excavated towards the nearest channel, allowing the vessel to then be towed out to deeper water.
Once in deeper water, divers conducted a thorough inspection of the hull to ensure the vessel was ready to be towed for haul out and inspection. This operation demanded strategic planning, specialized equipment, and disciplined execution. In the end, the successful recovery showcased the experience of the TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale team and their ability to solve complex marine problems.
