A sleek, 63-foot yacht that nearly sank off Miami Beach on Saturday was packed with social media influencers and had 32 people on board when it started taking on water, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. Coast Guard said the boat started taking on water near Monument Island in Biscayne Bay on Saturday afternoon, prompting a search-and-rescue response from its Sector Miami unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All 32 people on board were rescued or evacuated without any reported injuries, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We were able to get on scene and thankfully get all these people, these 32 individuals, off this vessel taking on water, with no medical concerns reported,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boat apparently didn’t hit bottom. The Coast Guard responders used air bags to raise it and keep it afloat outside boat lanes until its owner makes a decision on its destiny with the help of a salvage company, Strasburg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because multiple social media influencers were on board, the aftermath included plenty of videos. One video shows some of those on the boat maintaining a nonchalant attitude, with one man joking the vessel had hit an iceberg, Titanic-style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onlookers on other vessels also captured video of the struggling yacht, which appeared to be sinking stern-first as some of those aboard grabbed onto it bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The passenger capacity for the model in question, the Tecnomar Lamborghini 63, varies because it is highly configurable for each buyer: One for sale in the area has a listed capacity of 12; a new one at a dealer in North Miami Beach lists a capacity of 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Passenger capacity can also depend on layout, comfort considerations, and whether the boat\u2019s owners prioritize speed. All, however, have 24 tons of capacity, which experts say is generally a better guide for a boat’s ability to handle weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n