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Elsa, a 48-metre superyacht, runs aground off Saba Island

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The 48-meter motor yacht Elsa ran aground off the Caribbean island of Saba, about 20 miles off St. Maarten. The crew and passengers were able to escape without injury.

Diesel fuel from Elsa's 43,000 litre tanks leaked into the water. The removal of the remaining fuel onboard Elsa was already underway. Now Elsa's owner and local authorities are trying to figure out the safest way to get the vessel off the mark.

According to preliminary data, the yacht was unhooked from her mooring and was drifting towards the shore. Earlier this month, a smaller sailing vessel suffered a similar fate.

In the previous case, the mooring end was jammed under the bilge keel and rudder blade due to inclement weather conditions. According to local media, the mooring was in excellent condition and was installed only two weeks ago. There is a video online of this yacht's rescue mission where she is being removed from the rocks with a tug.

The 48-metre Elsa was built at Scheepswerf Peter Sijperda in the Netherlands in 2004. The interior and exterior of the vessel were designed by Weber Yacht Design studio.

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