Spain

Rodman

Three yachts were destroyed in a fire on the Miami River on Friday, including the 32-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rodman (Company)">Rodman</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana32.0m (104'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/351837/image/large-38b0354804819b2a661b3506b8b91966.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/351837">The incident took place at around 3:30, with flames seen engulfing the yachts along the 2700 block of Northwest North River Drive, near Miami International Airport. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office units arrived at the scene and used water and foam to try and extinguish the flames.According to local news website 7 News Miami, one of the other two yachts, which are around 18 metres, was completely submerged, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana32.0m (104'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> was partially submerged, with her bow still visible. The third yacht managed to stay afloat, but was severely damaged with her aft melted and charred.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/351836/image/large-b69922c7a349696b5ba960eedd4a3793.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/351836">Authorities are working to mitigate environmental damage caused by fuel run off from the boats, with a barrier placed in the water to prevent further damage. No injuries were reported, with authorities unclear what caused the fire to spread.MDSO detectives said the incident is now being investigated as arson.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/279092/image/large-53b5370aa04ab9e5607d5d4c19bb127c.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/279092"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana32.0m (104'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> was delivered in 2005 from Spain and features exterior design and naval architecture by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rodman (Company)">Rodman</a>. She features a three stateroom layout with accommodation for up to five guests. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana32.0m (104'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> is able to reach a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 21 knots.In 2023, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/58183" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Police investigate alleged robbery onboard 32m Nirvana yacht on Miami River (2023-07-24 12:15:00 +0200)">police investigated an alleged robbery onboard the yacht</a>, which involved a hostage situation. Around 13 to 17 people were onboard with a rapper, but when it came to returning to the dock, they held the captain at gunpoint and demanded their money back.SuperYacht Times will continue to follow this story and update when more information becomes available.&nbsp;

Nirvana: 32m Rodman yacht destroyed in fire on Miami River

Three yachts were destroyed in a fire on the Miami River on Friday, including the 32-metre Rodman motor yacht Nirvana. 

Three yachts destroyed in fire on Miami River 

The Miami Police Department is investigating an alleged hostage situation onboard the 32-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rodman (Company)">Rodman</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana30.78m (100'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> in Miami, Florida. The incident took place in the area of Southwest North River Drive and Second Street, near The Wharf Miami, just after 10pm on Sunday 23 July 2023.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/279094/image/large-c0a15cbd81ab28a5685dc779d805c5c7.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/279094">Local news channel 7News reported that around 13 to 17 people were onboard the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rodman (Company)">Rodman</a> 105 yacht with a rapper, following a charter trip earlier in the day. The owner of the yacht said that the group had paid, but when it came to returning to the dock, they held the captain at gunpoint and demanded their money back.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/279091/image/large-ea984c3fbce19e0b74963ab7de53999d.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/279091">According to the yacht’s owner, no one onboard was hurt and another crew member was able to secretly call for help. Footage broadcast by local news stations showed police officers approaching <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana30.78m (100'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> with long guns and people onboard with their hands up.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/279093/image/large-4a7a9a0ef8dbcdc8c0bb03f1f144e9f3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/279093">News channel NBC Miami also reported that everyone onboard was evacuated from the yacht, and that it was unclear if police were searching for a possible suspect. As of Sunday night, local time, no one was in custody.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/279092/image/large-53b5370aa04ab9e5607d5d4c19bb127c.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/279092"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana30.78m (100'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> was delivered in 2005 from Spain and features exterior design and naval architecture by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rodman (Company)">Rodman</a>. She features a three stateroom layout with accommodation for up to five guests. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5506" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana32.0m (104'12&quot;)Rodman2005">Nirvana</a> is able to reach a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 21 knots.SuperYacht Times has reached out to officials for further comment and will continue to follow this story.

Alleged robbery onboard 32m Nirvana yacht on Miami River

The Miami Police Department is investigating an alleged hostage situation onboard the 32me Rodman motor yacht Nirvana in Miami, Florida.

Police investigate alleged robbery onboard 32m Nirvana yacht on Miami River

Recently listed for sale on YATCO, the 32 metre Rodman built Nirvana has perhaps one of the most intriguing histories of any vessel currently on the market. Built in 2005 by the Spanish shipyard Rodman, Nirvana’s original owner was the 1st Head of Gabon, Omar Bongo. The name may not immediately stand out to most, but before his death in 2009, he was named the world’s longest serving non-monarch ruler.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157774/image/large-98d93acee972a2f1d580f77f7d6cc830.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157774">Bordering Republic of Congo and Angola on the Atlantic coast of Africa, Bongo ruled Gabon for a total of a total of 41 years. Unfortunately, his time as ruler of the country is drastically undermined by his notoriety in issues of corruption, reportedly pocketing a substantial percentage of the country’s GDP throughout the duration of his reign. His fraudulent wealth was spent on extravagant properties and toys, including several Bentley’s, Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s, an almost half-a-billion-dollar selection of properties in France and, of course, the superyacht Nirvana.Accommodating up to four guests over two large staterooms, Nirvana underwent a refit in 2013 and is offered to potential owners with the possibility to convert her to a four cabin layout to sleep eight guests. Whether or not the checkered history of her past owner will affect her sale positively, negatively, or not at all, time will tell.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157775/image/large-4361946f542dc9d3a5e8688b590beaa8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123190">Nirvana isn’t the only yacht currently circulating the media that has lived a decidedly colourful history. <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160104-saddam-hussein-boat-research-iraq/" target="_blank">National Geographic</a> recently wrote an article regarding Saddam Hussein’s ex-superyacht, Basrah Breeze, and its successful to conversion to what is considered to be one of the most luxury research vessels in the world.By Gemma Fottles