Seahawks owner’s yacht destroyed protected coral reef in Cayman Islands

Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen owns one of the largest yachts in the world, and the massive boat recently caused extensive damage to a large stretch of marine life.

The Cayman News Service reports that the anchor chain of Allen’s 300-foot yacht destroyed roughly 14,000 square feet of a protected coral reef in the Cayman Islands earlier this month. As NBC News notes, that would be the equivalent of three basketball courts.

Allen’s Seattle-based company Vulcan said Wednesday that the yacht’s crew was “explicitly directed” by the local port authority on where to anchor the vessel.

“When its crew was alerted by a diver that her anchor chain may have impacted coral in the area, the crew promptly, and on their own accord, relocated their position to ensure the reef was protected,” Vulcan said in a statement, noting that Allen was not on board at the time.

The area of protected reef is nearby two popular scuba diving spots.

“Early findings already indicate extensive damage,” a spokesman from the Cayman Islands’ Department of Environment told the Cayman News Service. “(Officials are) also paying close attention to lessons learned so that we can more effectively prevent these accidents while still hosting visiting yachts.”

Ironically enough, Allen announced six months ago that Vulcan was supporting research to “stabilize and restore coral reefs” as one of its many philantropic projects. Perhaps the effort will start in the Cayman Islands.

Allen, who also owns the Portland Trail Blazers, was hilariously called out by Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett after a game this season. We’d love to hear Bennett’s thoughts on the coral reef disaster.

H/T The Big Lead