Overview of the Fort Lauderdale Superyacht Crash
On Monday morning, July 20, 2026, a 112 foot Westport motor yacht named The Determination crashed into property and city infrastructure along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The incident occurred in the Riverwalk area near Southeast 1st Avenue and Riverwalk North / South New River Drive.
What Happened During the Collision
Towing Incident: The Sarasota based superyacht was under tow by a assistance tugboat (identified as belonging to Steel Towing) heading through the narrow New River channel.
Loss of Control: Witnesses recorded video showing the yacht moving at a high rate of speed. As the vessel veered sharply to the left toward the dock, the towboat attempted to pull right to correct it, causing the tow rope to snap under tension.
Impact: The yacht slammed directly into the city’s riverfront dock. The impact tore off part of the yacht’s hull, ripped away its anchor, and heavily damaged a nearby commercial gondola tour boat moored in the river.
Damage & Infrastructure Impact
City Infrastructure: The collision caused severe damage to the city dock, destroyed its support pilings, and struck the roof of a nearby two story city stormwater pump station.
Safety Measures: Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and police officers immediately secured the area, closed off the adjacent sidewalk, and erected barriers.
Structural Inspections: The city deployed structural engineers to evaluate potential underwater damage to the seawall and the structural integrity of the stormwater pump station.
Injuries: No injuries were reported, and no city personnel were on the dock at the time of the crash.
Investigation Status
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified and have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Initial analysis suggests the yacht may have experienced unexpected forward engine thrust during the tow, making it impossible for the towboat to slow down or redirect the vessel’s heavy momentum in the narrow river waterway.
