Crew Injured In Yacht-Tanker Collision Awarded $2.88 Million In Damages

The crew members of a luxury yacht, Utopia IV, have been awarded more than $2.8 million in damages after a high-profile legal battle over a 2021 collision that sank a product tanker near the Bahamas. The jury’s decision came after a lengthy trial in Miami, concluding on April 17, 2025.

On December 23, 2021, the 64-meter Italian-built superyacht Utopia IV collided with the 750-dwt product tanker Tropic Breeze at sea, causing the tanker to sink within 20 minutes. The collision occurred late at night while both vessels were sailing away from New Providence Island in the Bahamas.

While the crew of the tanker managed to evacuate safely, serious injuries were reported aboard Utopia IV. An investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the main cause of the crash was the failure of both vessels to maintain proper lookout.

Utopia IV’s bridge team failed to detect the Tropic Breeze on radar or visually, despite overtaking the tanker. The yacht’s S-band radar was not operational, and the only available radar was set to a limited range of three nautical miles. The bosun on watch in the wheelhouse also cited visibility issues due to spray from the bow.

The NTSB also found that the AIS of the tanker was not working, and the tanker’s bridge team had also failed to maintain a proper lookout, contributing to the accident.

Owned by US retail billionaire J.R. Ridinger, Utopia IV had 12 crew members and 7 charter guests onboard at the time of the crash. After the incident, three crew members filed a lawsuit under the Jones Act, citing unseaworthiness, negligence, and failure to provide maintenance, cure, and wages.

During the trial, the plaintiffs, Eric Ward, Fred Wennberg, and Samuel Parrott, reported injuries from the collision, including fractures, PTSD, and other serious injuries. The jury awarded Ward $805,000, Parrott $591,000, and Wennberg $1,492,300, totaling $2,888,300 in damages.

The trial also revealed delays in payment of medical expenses, wages, and maintenance to the crew by Utopia Yachting LLC, the yacht’s ownership company. Despite defense arguments, the jury found in favor of the crew members for punitive damages due to these delays.

After undergoing repairs and refitting, Utopia IV is currently listed for sale at $44 million. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper lookout and safety protocols at sea to prevent such accidents from occurring.

Reference: dockwalk