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$200m yacht hits rock in Cannes
20/05/2007 13:29 - (SA)
Cannes - One of the world's biggest private yachts, a 108-metre vessel belonging to Saudi billionaire Nasser Al-Rashid, sparked a beach pollution alert at the Cannes film festival on Sunday after running aground.
The luxury vessel, the Lady Moura, hit a submerged rocky outcrop near the port in this French Riviera resort as it was navigating a short distance off-shore Saturday.
Authorities closed two hotel-owned beaches hosting some of the VIP parties taking place at the festival and set up water barriers to stop leaking fuel from fouling other areas.
The yacht itself, an imposing white vessel carrying a helicopter, was pulled off the underwater hazard by a tugboat. Two big holes seen in its hull were hastily patched up.
Cannes officials said the fuel pollution was minimal and should be quickly cleared up, allowing the 15 000 festival-goers to continue with their partying and cinema dealings on one of the world's most famous coastlines.
Rashid, an advisor to the Saudi royal family and a powerful businessman, has a huge fortune whose magnitude is largely shielded from public scrutiny. He reportedly paid more than $200m for the Lady Moura, which is named after an ex-wife.
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