__Commissioned last year and chosen at the Cannes International Boat Show 2011 as the "Most Innovative Yacht of the Year" . But "Yogi" had a short life: The French luxury yacht "My Yogi" sank on the morning of 17.2. 19 miles east of the island of Skyros in the Greek Aegean Sea. The "Yogi" was considered one of the most advanced leisure charter ships. She was built to MCA rules, applied to French Registry safety standards and the construction was under ABS surveillance and classification.

The "Yogi" was on her way back to her home port Marseille. She came back from the shipyard Proteksan Turquoise in Istanbul where she was undergoing warranty works. On her journey she came into the stormy sea of the Aegean Sea. With a maximum speed of 17 knots and 3500 HP (2 Caterpillar engines) she should have been sufficiently equipped for  these notoriously dangerous waters during the winter month in this region of the Mediterranean.

Two Greek navy helicopters and a Super Puma of the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Coast Guard boat, four merchant ships and a naval frigate came to help. From the air, the eight-man crew, who had taken refuge mainly in the high-lying side of the ship and a life raft was rescued. The yacht sank shortly afterwards first with the stern into the deep water.

The "Yogi" was build at the "Proteksan Turkuaz Yat San AS" and provided space for 12 guests in six cabins. There where two temperature-controlled swimming pools with a skylight for Beach Club, a massage room, a multimedia lounge, the teppanyaki bar on the sun deck, a office and dressing rooms. The yacht has been offered for Charter by Burgess 469000-497000 dollars a week and by Camper & Niclson for a little bit less.

Harbored in Marseille, the M.Y YOGI was the first mega yacht in the world to fly the French flag, not Caribbean. Spacious and private, with over 2,624 square-feet of living space and 1,640 square-feet of outside decks, the yacht was able to accommodate up to twelve guests in six staterooms. A professional crew of fifteen people guarantees the smooth running of the ship and provides the passengers with faultless comfort and service throughout their journey.

For those, looking for a new and unique way to see the French Riviera, this ship was a nice option: The ship was owned by the Lov Hotel Group which also offers such leisure places like the Chalet Ormello, Chalet de Pierres and Les Airelles in Courchevel. They had then branched out into mega-yachts, and the M.Y. Yogi was then sailing between Monaco and Cannes. Francophiles, rejoice: All the hospitality products are by Hermes, the air freshener is by Blaise Mautin and the crockery, china and glassware are supplied by Bernardaud, Coquet and Baccarat.

Well that's life...


Identification:
Name:         Yogi
IMO:            9544621
Flag:            France International Register
MMSI:           228000800
Callsign:        FFZD

Techspecs:
Vessel type:       Commercial Yacht
Gross tonnage:   1,028 tons
Summer DWT:    125 tons
Length:             60 m
Beam:              10 m
Draught:            3.3 m

Administrative Information   
Home port:        Marseille
Class society:      American Bureau Of Shipping
Build year:         2011
Builder*:            Proteksan Turquoise Shipyard
Istanbul,            Turkey
Owner:              Lov Nb 49 - Paris, France
Manager:           Lov Nb 49 - Paris, France

The name Concordia was intended to express the wish for "continuing harmony, unity, and peace between European nations." That's why I only add here some photos of the casino-style interior which makes the ship rather a floating gambling city on water. It does not end here. The ship have had an incident in 2008 in Sicily. Then in 2010, the "Costa Concordia" provided the decadent setting for Jean-Luc Godard's film Film "Socialisme" And to top all this the main warning was at her launch in the Sestri Ponente ship yard on 2 September 2005: the champagne bottle failed to break. Owned by Carnival Corporation with total assets of 37.490 billion the Costa Concordia is not the biggest asset of the company. The costs to built this  290.20 metres long ship was just 450 million. A rescue would be much more expensive than if she simply slips a bit deeper into the bay and is out of sight... But a rescue would be really possible. 

Another thing was also crossing my mind:  While the captain of the salvaged "Costa Concordia" will probably be tried because he has apparently failed to coordinate the rescue efforts, others are being prosecuted because they have successfully rescued people in distress at sea as they were trying to leave the troubled civil war in Lybia for the Italian island of Lampedusa. Twisted relationships? Twisted law?