Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s yacht destroys protected coral reef

A massive luxury yacht owned by Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen destroyed most of a protected coral reef during a visit to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean earlier this month, media reported.

An anchor chain from the vessel damaged nearly 14,000 square feet, about 80%, of reef near two scuba diving sites in the West Bay, the islands’ environment department said, according to the Cayman News Service.

Allen’s Seattle-based Vulcan Inc organisation, which manages his fortune, said that the yacht was moored on January 14 in a “position explicitly directed” by the local port authority and that his team was co-operating in the investigation.