x sailing yachts

NEW! Upgraded version 2022

• Get a Virtual Reality tour in the updated version!
• Configure your own X4³
• Contact your dealer

The new hull design with wider transom and lifted soft chines suits the X4³ very well. The additional form stability is quite noticeable, as is the considerably less wake and turbulence of the heeled transom travelling through the water.

At the helm you have a nice and direct feel. With slight adjustment to the responsiveness of the rudder, that shares the now updated design of the entire Pure X range rudders, helming this yacht will be a fantastic experience for the owners.

X-Yachts has developed an online web-configurator for each of the Pure X models, enabling you to design your own version of the sail yacht. Configure your own dreams.

The hull is made using vacuum infused epoxy sandwich lamination technology to ensure maximum strength and safety. The X4³ offers sailors a substantial keel weight and sail plan making it a dream to sail into wind and waves.

Eleven fixed hull and deck port lights and twelve openable deck hatches ensures maximum interior ventilation and light.

Six well sized self-tailing winches for halyards, genoa and main sheet.

All X-Yachts normal features including encapsulated lead keel, hydraulic backstay adjuster, discontinuous rod rigging and Spectra halyards are standard.

Hatches and windows

The X4³ deck hatches, portlights and windows are carefully selected for a flush fitting.

Cockpit furniture

The X4³ comes with a large, removable cockpit table, which is securely fixed.

Bathing Platform

The X4³ has an optional bathing platform with a large removable bathing ladder.

Pedestal options

The X4³ offers a choice of pedestal options to customise the twin composite wheels.

The X4³ deck hatches, portlights and windows are carefully selected for a flush fitting. Advanced design hinge mechanisms on the opening coachroof windows ensure there are no fittings or bolts visible from the outside, yet allowing ventilation and increased light down below.

The X4³ comes with a large, removable cockpit table, which is securely fixed. The cockpit table is a folding table, which can be folded and stored in one of the cockpit lockers.

The X4³ has an optional bathing platform with a large removable bathing ladder. The bathing platform can easily be lifted using a simple rope mechanism. Adjustable foot-chocks integrated into the lazarette hatches ensure the helmsman may enjoy a perfect steering position, with a sense of security as well as a clear view forward during manoeuvres and close sailing situations.

The X4³ offers a choice of four pedestal options to customise the twin composite wheels and ensure every skipper has their preferred information at their fingertips. In addition, displays can also be mounted on the mast bracket and/or the companionway instrument housing for ease of viewing by all members of crew.

Integrated Bowsprit

S-bow design and integrated standard bow sprit as standard has been incorporated.

NEW X4³ test sailing in November 2021.

Interior Luxury

Danish design and architecture is famous for its clean, timeless style. It showcases luxury whilst also being functionally designed to work either out on the open seas or moored up in harbour.

Superior quality, detailed interior carpentry and materials used sets it apart from mass produced boats, producing an exquisite, natural interior.

Numerous deck and hull portlights allow for ample light to flood in, gifting the interior with a bright and roomy ambiance.

Plentiful storage space throughout allows for an uncluttered, ‘live on board’ lifestyle, giving you a place one can retreat to when the weather outside is less forgiving.

Interior Surfaces

Bulkhead and furniture surfaces.

Quarter sawn high quality wooden veneers, lightly sanded and varnished, from Italian suppliers. As standard furniture is built in Nordic Oak offering a light modern look. More traditional teak is also available.

Nordic Oak (Standard)

Floorboards

Below samples have a hard wearing top surface of laminate imitating wooden veneers. As an alternative, top surface of genuine wooden veneer (as Bulkhead & Furniture) is also available.

Teak without koto (Standard)

Walnut (Optional)

Teak with koto (Optional)

Galley Worktop

The worktop is made of an advanced composite of natural minerals and pure acrylic polymer which creates a stone-hard, luxurious surface.

Camoan White Corian (Standard)

Black Quartz Corian (Optional)

Upholstery and Mattress Fabrics

Just Fleckless is easy to clean. Each yarn is coated with a newly developed stain guard before processing without compromise to feel or appearance. 85% Polyester, 15% Viscose

750 Olive Grey (Standard)

01 Nature (Optional)

05 Camel (Optional)

403 Bambus (Optional)

710 Moon Grey (Optional)

10 Navy (Optional)

Alsace and Nubilux; Extremely easily cleaned. 100% Polyester Microfiber Fabrics has knitted back and velor surface. Microfiber is breathable, durable and abrasion resistant.

Alsace Blue (Optional)

Alsace Ivory (Optional)

Alsace Sand (Optional)

Nubilux 709 Argent (Optional)

3 double cabins and 2 bathrooms

3 double cabins and 1 bathroom

2 double cabins and 2 bathrooms

2 double cabins and 1 bathroom

Specification

X4³ mkii in the media.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Yachting Monthly

Náutica & Yates Magazine

Spanish Magazine. Page 27 and 46.

*All prices are exclusive of VAT and may be subject to other taxes in your country. Please contact your local dealer if you require further information.

Join our Mailing List

Join our monthly email mailing list to get all the latest information and news from X-Yachts directly in your inbox.

Yachts for Sale

Enjoy the latest X-Yachts series of high-end, brand new, luxury performance boats and all the benefits that come along.

• New X-Yachts
• Pre-owned Brokerage
• Floating Boat Show

Management programs

The x-yachts difference.

A yacht which delivers  Superior Sailing Pleasure  is a yacht which sails well in a variety of wind conditions and sea states, offers luxurious comfort, is safe and reliable and provides pure enjoyment when at sea.

Every detail of an X-Yacht, from the hull lines through to the world-class craftsmanship, stem from this idea.

The difference between X-Yachts and other yacht builders comes from how the yachts are designed, built and specified technically. Production cost is not the main priority at X-Yachts, instead features and equipment are chosen, no matter the cost, to ensure all models excel in key areas.

Steel frame

Vacuum infusion technology, rod rigging, quality by design.

The pleasure of ownership is unbeatable and X-Yachts exists to make your dream come true. Allow us to introduce to you the X-Yachts qualities and attention to details that make them so distinct in the premium and performance sailing yachts category. Building your own X-Yachts according to your exact wishes and specifications will be a smooth process when working with our experienced team. There is a wide range of models for all tastes and needs and we will help you discover which is the right one for you. Immerse in the new range of contemporary performance cruisers and live the dream.

Searching for the perfect pre-owned X-Yacht? We have hand-picked second-hand X-Yachts that tick all or most of the boxes. Our well experienced and brand specific X-Yachts Service Hub team will guarantee that you get all the support you need, in a level equivalent to the values of the brand.  F rom the initial market research, yacht viewing and survey, technical and financial appraisal, troubleshooting, maintenance works, refit projects, legal support and delivery. We will cater for all needs and budgets and help you enjoy the performance, qualities and safety that all X-Yachts offer. 

With more than 40 years of experience in high-performance sailing boats, X-Yachts has now introduced a new and extraordinary initiative, based on the deep experience accumulated over these years: a 33 foot open powerboat for quality-conscious boaters with the same well-proven X-Yacht Ethos. Fast and safe on the water, pride of ownership, innovative development and design.

The X-Power 33C is designed and built with one overall strategy – to comply with what is expected by X-Yachts – Ease of Use. The technical equipment provides an intuitive experience; you only need to push one button, and then you are ready to drive!

Available to the X-Yachts dealers network and to prospective buyers, our Floating Boat Show consists of the largest and most updated fleet of X-Yachts worldwide and is open to welcome you from March to November. You will be able to enjoy the latest X-Yachts series of high-end, brand new, luxury performance boats and take them for a sea trial.

Just 35 minutes away from the Athens International airport El. Venizelos and 45 minutes from downtown Athens, the location is of key importance. Olympic Marine is the home of our X-Yachts, from which you are able to venture to the hundreds of Greek islands and the Mediterranean when the season starts. 

Gain a true impression as to how your X-Yacht will perform by helming one of our X-Yachts in all wind directions and conditions, starting from our base. Accompanied by our X-Yachting team, you can expect an all around demonstration of the X-Yachts model that interests you. Our in-depth knowledge and experience around X-Yachts will provide you with all the information you need, ranging from technical aspects to sailing performance and how this will ultimately translate to your personal lifestyle and living on board. This service is dedicated to helping you make a responsible and informed decision while getting to know the X-Yachts Qualities first hand.

A different kind of worry-free ownership for your new yacht is available at our base in Olympic Marine, 35min from Athens International Airport. Our program portfolio includes the exclusive X-Yachts Care program and the X-Yachts Charter program. All these programs are embraced by our X-Yachts Service Hub, offering high end in-house after sales and  technical support, as well as emergency and concierge services. The final scope is to always remove any stress and allow you enhance your time on board by creating positive memories with your beloved ones in an uncompromised manner. 

Olympic Marine, Lavrio 77th km Athinon-Souniou, 19500 [email protected] +302292023916

• Xc 47 to join X-Yachting Sailing Center’s fleet in 2025
• X-Yachting Marks Successful Participation at boot Düsseldorf 2024

X-Yachts Charters

• Bareboat & Skippered Charters
• Team building – Corporate Yacht Charter
• Daily Escapes
• Racing Charter
• Speedboat Sea Transfers
• Sailing Courses – Learn to Sail in Greece
• X-Yachts X4⁹
• X-Yachts X4⁶
• X-Yachts X4³
• X-Yachts X4⁰
• X-Yachts Xp 44
• X-Yachts X-Power 33c
• Mission & Values
• Meet our team
• Testimonials
• X-Yachting Quality
• X-Yachts Service Hub
• X-Yachts Care Program
• Maintenance & Refit
• Emergency Support
• Concierge Service

Join our newsletter

I agree to the terms & conditions

• Sailing in Greece
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

© 2024 X-Yachting. All rights reserved.

• Boat Trips & Day Cruises from Athens
• Team building – Corporate Yacht Charter
• Sailing Courses – Learn to Sail in Greece
• Management Programs

• X-Yachts Xp44
• Watch the trailer

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sailing Totem
• Charter Resources
• Destinations
• Galley Recipes
• Living Aboard
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology

X-Yachts X46: Best Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: December 9, 2019

The big-boat classes in the 2020 Boat of the Year competition presented some big problems for the judging panel. Take the Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet fleet, with a quartet of extremely solid contenders across a wide range of price points and with different design briefs and objectives, ranging from versatile performance-style cruisers to a dedicated bluewater passagemaker. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

At $550,000, the Bavaria C50 packed a lot of punch into a 50-footer. “It’s billed as a family cruiser, and features twin helms and a single rudder,” judge Dan Spurr said. “The representative who presented the boat emphasized the division between the entertainment area and the cockpit and working areas, and that cockpit really resonated with me—for a bigger boat, it’s very efficient to sail.” The Bavaria also struck a chord with fellow judge Ed Sherman: “I’ve been watching the evolution of Bavarias since they first started coming to the United States, and they’ve come a long way. Everything about them is significantly better than the earlier boats, and you get a lot of features for the price. It’s a player in this group.”

From a value standpoint, the Elan Impression 41.5 left a strong, good impression on the judging panel. Judge Ralph Naranjo was particularly enamored with the overall build quality of the hull laminate. “It’s an ­ISO-approved Category A offshore boat; they did a really nice job with the vacuum infusion,” he said. “I was crawling in those aft lockers looking at the autopilot arrangement, and could see how well the deck elements and bulkheads went in. And the autopilot installation was great, with an excellent stainless-steel bracket that was bolted and cantilevered to catch both the deck and the bulkhead. The autopilot and rams have to take a huge amount of thrust or push/pull; they need to be in there securely. And they were.”

It was clearly going to take an outstanding vessel to sway the panel’s opinions. It turned out there was not only one other formidable yacht to choose from, but two.

“The Amel 50 is truly an oceangoing globe-trotter,” Sherman said, speaking about the latest, highly anticipated model from the long-standing stalwart French builder. “With a signature watertight forward crash bulkhead, a centrally located sea chest for easily isolating a leak and shutting it down, to a globally conscious shore-power system that can deal with 50 or 60 hertz and 120 or ­230-240 volts, Amel has designed a boat that will have you covered wherever your travels take you. For those who want to cruise in luxury, this is the boat.”

“Amel has long been one of the only worldwide ­companies to offer what is essentially a ‘ready to cruise’ boat,” Spurr said. “The boat can be operated entirely from the security of the cockpit, which has a windshield and hardtop, like many solo offshore racers. Some of my colleagues didn’t like this feature, feeling it isolated the helm from feeling the weather. The boat is not inexpensive, but it also seemed to have the highest-quality finish.”

“To me, it’s more of a motorsailer than a traditional cruising sailboat,” Naranjo said. “Her performance under sail is somewhat limited by a fairly high displacement and a modest sail area. She is easy to handle, though, because of her power-assisted sail ­trimming and setting capabilities.”

Sailing prowess is never a debatable issue with X-Yachts, however, and after treating the judges to a world-class sailing experience, they ­ultimately decided that the X-Yachts X46 was the Best Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet for 2020. (It was a back-to-back winning effort from X-Yachts; in 2019, X-Yachts’ X49 was also honored as the Best Full-Size Cruiser.)

“This was just a joy to sail,” Sherman said. “A ­performance sailing boat in every sense —very close-winded. It was everything I’ve come to expect from X-Yachts. They are put together by real craftspeople who take a great deal of concern in everything they do. So many little things. For instance, the wiring connections behind the panel board are all bent to 90 degrees and secured in place, and they hand-solder the solid copper bus links between the switches. This is all labor-intensive stuff that you just don’t see on most boats. They’ve always been known for using top-quality gear, and they certainly didn’t cut any corners here.

“X-Yachts are put ­together by real craftspeople who take a lot of pride in their work.”

“The epoxy resin they use in the layup is going to last forever, and the post-cure process is just top shelf,” Sherman continued. “I mean, what can I say? And I believe the pricing is actually pretty darn good. This boat costs $740,000, which is nothing to laugh at—it’s a significant amount of money. But when you compare it dollarwise to some of the other boats out there of similar lengths, you know what? It kind of stands out. And so, yes, I’m a fan. I’ve always been.”

“Like all X-Yachts, it has a unique feature in the construction, with a steel grid that sits on stringers with a balanced lifting point where you can actually lift the entire boat with a crane, with a strop that comes down through a hatch,” Spurr said. “The quality of construction all around seemed very good, with the keel actually bolted to the grid. Basically, we were told that you can’t lose the keel on this boat, which is pretty remarkable. And it’s really a handsome boat all the way around.”

Not to mention, when the final votes were cast, it was a winning one.

See All Winners:

2020 Boats of the Year

Other Winners:

• Overall Boat of the Year
• Best Performance Cruiser
• Best Midsize Cruiser Under 45 feet
• Best Full-size Cruiser
• Best Full-size Cruiser Over 55 Feet
• Best Midsize Cruising Catamaran
• Best Full-size Multihull
• Best Charter Boat
• Most Innovative
• More: boty , boty 2020 , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

New to the Fleet: Pegasus Yachts 50

Balance 442 “Lasai” Set to Debut

Sailboat Review: Tartan 455

Meet the Bali 5.8

Cruising the Northwest Passage

A Legendary Sail

10 Best Sailing Movies of All Time

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

X-Yachts X4-9 test: Danish yard strikes a tough balance with hybrid design

• April 11, 2019

The X4-9 is a stylish performance cruiser that is both manageable short-handed and can still win races, reports Pip Hare

Photos: Rick Tomlinson

The X4 9 is squarely aimed at the no-compromise sailor who wants it all. It combines a comfortable, stylish interior, with clean, beautiful lines on deck and can even be raced with a minimal crew. This is a tough balance to achieve, and so often compromise can lead to disappointment.

Setting out on one of the only blustery days of the summer, with a crew of four, I was intrigued to find out if this 50-footer could really deliver the whole package. Within ten minutes of leaving the berth I was glued to the helm, blasting upwind with a grin on my face. When a company has 40 years of design experience, hybrid does not necessarily mean compromise.

The X4 9 is the third model to launch in the new ‘Pure’ X range, following the impressive X4 3 and X6 5 that we tested two years ago. This popular new range aims to bridge the gap between the Xp performance and Xc cruising lines. Some 18 boats have already sold since the first hull launched early this year.

Hitting the sweet spot between comfort and performance is a tricky thing to achieve, but this boat appears to have it all. The stylish interior combines good looks and practicality. On deck the X4 9 cuts an equally subtle yet impressive figure. The pin stripes of a full teak deck run seamlessly from bow to stern with every piece of deck gear that may interrupt it recessed or covered.

Control lines – along with the sprayhood – are concealed beneath the completely uncluttered deck

Our test boat had twin carbon wheels on unobtrusive pedestals and carried a carbon rig and deep V-boom. No single item grabs the eye but the whole boat holds your attention. It’s a powerful yacht, yet one that can be simply managed solo using well laid-out electric controls – perfect for a greedy helmsman.

Leaving our berth in the Hamble River, the wind was gusting 18 knots, with grey clouds scudding across the sky. It was going to be a feisty day and I was interested to see how our small crew would cope.

Power on tap

Looking up the 20m (65ft 7in) mast, I sensed the effort of hoisting the mainsail but no sooner had those thoughts crossed my mind than the main was up and the self-tacking jib set. Our test boat had an upgrade to electric power for all four winches and so handling the 119m 2 sail area was effortless: without this option, a lot of huffing and puffing will doubtless be involved.

Gently pulling the wheel down we bore away and almost immediately began blasting along at over 7 knots, the X4 9 straining to go faster. The instant power didn’t seem to match with how easily all the sail appeared; it felt like we’d dropped the clutch on a high-revving engine and I half expected to see steam rising from the wake behind us.

A flush, uncluttered deck contributes to X4^9’s pleasingly clean lines

The wind was at the top limit for a full mainsail as we set off on a bouncy beat, which provided a dynamic and rapid ride. The X4 9 felt tender in transition from a standing start to being powered-up close hauled, heeling to around 20°, but once under way our angle of heel remained steady and appropriate for performance.

At a true wind angle of 44° the X4 9 stormed along at 7.5 knots giving a performance on the fast side of the cruising/racing spectrum. Helming from either position required only a light touch and even at maximum heel I felt completely secure standing against the single foot chock – even so, X-Yachts plan to offer a hinging steering ‘platform’ for greater stability on future models.

The low side deck only reached the back of my knees while standing and I wondered if this would be a compromise to comfort. In fact, it proved comfortable when heeled and felt natural with a great view of the sails and sea.

Ease of handling

The wind remained shifty and 20-knot bullets of breeze started to bully us as we tacked between shallows. Our test boat was fitted with an electric mainsheet traveller below decks, an optional feature I was hugely impressed by. The flat winder is effectively a captive winch system that drives the mainsheet car up and down the recessed track. The motor dropped the car fast enough to keep the X4 9 on its feet during the gusts and only required a light touch of a finger to power us back up.

The standard X4 9 package has a German mainsheet attached to a central point and no traveller. An increasing trend in cruising boats, this seems an acceptable shift from the barely effective coachroof travellers. However, given the ‘Pure’ X ethos is firmly grounded in a quality sailing experience, I was surprised that travellers are not standard. I personally struggle with the performance compromise when trimming a mainsail on vang and sheet alone.

I quizzed X-Yachts ’ founder and designer Niels Jeppesen on this and he responded that not all sailors actively use travellers and that, particularly on larger yachts, they can be dangerous for novice crews or guests. This is good reasoning but I feel the recessed and motorised solution to this problem is beautiful, practical and safe – I would pay the extra £7,000 to control the leech.

When we eventually capitulated to conditions, tucking in a first reef, the angle of heel reduced and our ride instantly became less twitchy with little effect on speed.

Article continues below…

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 boat test – the next big thing for the world’s biggest builder?

Beneteau’s new stepped hull design works so well this 46.1 could become its most popular model ever

Finot-Conq FC3 53 test: Can this offshore cruiser deliver the best of both worlds?

If the electric green hull and striking looks of Nica don’t grab your attention, then its on-paper description certainly will.…

For my first tack at the helm I announced “Ready to tack?” and received the confirmation from our crew of three. Steering slowly through the tack, I anticipated a flurry of activity, but instead watched the crew get up, cross the cockpit and settle themselves into the cushions again as the self-tacking jib flopped over. Again, I was surprised by the performance versus effort relationship. There is little for crew to other than to sit back and enjoy the ride.

All four winches are set to the back of the cockpit leaving the seating area entirely rope-free. Despite the frisky conditions, the waves only reached halfway down the coachroof, leaving the cockpit totally dry.

Primary and secondary winches are of equal size and set well apart for simultaneous use. The bank of jammers and rope organisers are far enough forward to allow ropes to be taken to either winch in a sensible radius. Controls could be reached by the helmsman leaning around the wheel.

The standard package comes with a self-tacking jib, though all boats are engineered to take longitudinal genoa tracks. Of the 18 boats sold to date, none have chosen that option. Our North 3Di jib had a number of holes in the clew, which provided surprisingly effective twist control on the breeze – move the shackle up a hole to reduce twist, down to open the top of the sail.

For reaching, a well-placed padeye attaches to the toerail to create an outboard lead. When powered up reaching under full main, we achieved 10 knots of boat speed at 100–110° to the true wind. I don’t imagine you would use the jib much below 150° true, as the position of the jib car makes it difficult to fill or pole-out, wing on wing. We made speeds of 7-8 knots dead downwind under main alone.

Our test boat carried a 200m 2 asymmetric spinnaker on a top-down furler, which we set in the lee of the Isle of Wight. Off-wind sails are flown from a padeye on the stemhead, as the stainless-steel bow roller has no bobstay so cannot support significant load.

We carried the spinnaker in winds from 14 knots up to 20 knots, managing wind angles of between 130° and 150° to the true wind. Our boat speed peaked at 12 knots and steering was fun but quite a handful at the higher wind angles.

In the stronger breeze, the 2.4m deep rudder kept a good grip but needed active interaction, resulting in fun and energetic sailing. I hogged the helm downwind, enjoying the ride and eating up the miles.

A self-tacking jib on an X? It helps make a powerful boat easy to handle when shorthanded

Stowage taken seriously

Stowage on deck is in ‘the ends’ with both a cavernous bow sail locker and a lazarette cum tender garage. The transom drops down to create a bathing platform, revealing a garage 2.5m wide between the rams. This is large enough to stow a small inflated tender and houses access hatches for steering gear, rudder bearings and the mainsheet traveller system.

There is dedicated liferaft stowage under the starboard cockpit seats, which lift entirely off a flat bottom enabling the raft to be slid-out rather than lifted.

The garage is 2.5m wide between rams, but the test boat packed in a 3.2m RIB with deflated bow

The recessed sprayhood sits beneath a number of teak deck panels. To raise it, all panels must be removed, the hood erected, before the panels are replaced. It’s a multistep process, so don’t expect to be putting this up and down during a day on the water, but it’s a stylish solution to the problem of ugly and cumbersome sprayhoods.

Under the water, the X4 9 uses the T-keel of the Xp but has deeper sections and more rocker, like the Xc, for a more comfortable motion upwind. Topsides culminate in a substantial moulded toerail, and there is a gentle sheerline as the deck rises up to meet a blunt bow.

Strength and quality are cornerstones of X-Yachts build and design. Hulls are vacuum-infused, post-cured epoxy foam sandwich, with three watertight bulkheads. Rod rigging is standard.

Interior fit-out is understated but with a soft and welcoming feel

Below decks

Below decks the Pure X4 9 is understated but stunning. The standard finish of Nordic oak is earthy but not dark and no reflective materials have been used in proximity to LED downlights to eliminate any ugly pinpoints of bright light. Overall the effect is soft and welcoming. The saloon felt instantly comfortable, a warm space with room both to live and practically stow all that’s needed.

The eyecatching centrepiece dining table is surrounded by a U-shaped sofa. There is stowage under the seats, accessed either via lifting tops on gas struts or deep pull-out drawers. Lockers at head level surround the entire cabin. All bench and cupboard tops are fitted with ergonomic fiddles, which add to a secure feeling moving around under way.

Located forward of the heads is a dedicated navstation. When not in use, instruments can be hidden from sight behind a locker door and, if a chartplotter is required, an additional wooden structure can be fitted over the chart table at eye-level.

The L-shaped galley is spacious and ergonomic, with white Corian worktops including a stove cover, a double sink, the option for two fridges and space for a microwave and the ubiquitous espresso machine. Opposite the galley is the aft heads, which has an integrated shower.

The X4^9 can sleep up to six

Smart cabins

The owner’s cabin is forward, an area flooded with light from two separate full-size deck hatches and bed-level hull windows. The main feature of this minimalist cabin is the large island bed and thick mattress. The bed lifts revealing stowage beneath. The ensuite heads is a generous size and has a separate shower cubicle.

The X4 9 is available with either two double guest cabins or a twin and a double aft cabin arrangement. Our test boat had the latter as well as bespoke fabric pipe cots.

The twin singles can be converted to a double using an insert, which creates versatility. Set up as a twin, the cabin did not feel cramped, there was plenty of room between the berths and I was able to sit comfortably upright on both bunks.

Engine room access is a bit of a squeeze

Both cabins have large hanging lockers and drawers as well as under-bunk stowage. Access to the space under the cockpit is through side hatches from both cabins – here there is room for a generator, and a washing machine should they be chosen as options.

Our test boat had an uprated 80hp engine which seemed to fill every inch of the space under the companionway. There are additional access panels on both side of the engine bay but you won’t be getting in there to service the engine without a bit of a wriggle.

Our verdict

The X4 9 is an impressive beast that certainly seems to have it all. It is elegant and stylish without being showy and the consistent, thoughtful design and high quality build will appeal enormously to the experienced sailor.

But the magic really happens when you hoist the sails. It kept me engaged from the first moment I grabbed the helm and I was blown away that such a dynamic sailing experience could be achieved with such little effort.

There’s no doubt that our test boat, with its carbon rig and top-quality sails, gave an enhanced performance, but even without these features I believe this boat could feed our sailing souls.

There is truly a delicate balance between comfort, style, performance and the effort required to sail a boat of this size, but the X4 9 has the potential to keep everyone happy. This is not a compromise – X-Yachts has nailed it.

Specification

X-Yachts and YANMAR are Keeping the Danish Tradition for Boat Building Alive

Historically, the Danish people are well known for their sailing prowess and talent for boatbuilding. In the southern Jutland town of Haderslev, X-Yachts and Yanmar are helping keep this tradition very much alive.

“We are surrounded by so much water and therefore have a strong history of sailing,” says Kræn Brinck Nielsen, CEO of X-Yachts. Kræn grew up sailing dingies and excelled enough to represent his country. Later, he was offered his dream job at the helm of this local shipyard that has built its reputation as the best in performance yacht design and construction.

“It was an easy choice – I’ve known this company since I was eight years old and have sailed X-Yachts my whole career,” he adds. “Having something you are passionate about in your backyard was almost too good to be true.”

Elige tu idioma

Choisissez votre langue, velg ditt språk.

Nederlandsk

Portugisisk

Välj ditt språk

Portugisiska

• Boats for Sale

New and used X-Yachts for sale

• Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• United States
• X-Yachts IMX 38
• X-Yachts IMX 40
• X-Yachts IMX 45
• X-Yachts X-102
• X-Yachts X-332
• X-Yachts X-342
• X-Yachts X-35
• X-Yachts X-37
• X-Yachts X-372
• X-Yachts X-382
• X-Yachts X-40
• X-Yachts X-41
• X-Yachts X-412
• X-Yachts X-43
• X-Yachts X-442
• X-Yachts X-45
• X-Yachts X-452
• X-Yachts X-46
• X-Yachts X-482
• X-Yachts X-50
• X-Yachts X-512
• X-Yachts X-55
• X-Yachts X-562
• X-Yachts X-612
• X-Yachts X-70
• X-Yachts X-79
• X-Yachts Xc 35
• X-Yachts Xc 38
• X-Yachts Xc 45
• X-Yachts Xp 33
• X-Yachts Xp 38
• X-Yachts Xp 44
• X-Yachts Xp 50

Search for a X-Yachts on TheYachtMarket today. We have X-Yachts brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

History of X-Yachts

X-Yachts is a Danish based company that was founded in 1979 with a vision to create exceptional sailing boats. It started out as a small scale production of eight boats a year but has grown to become an internationally recognized and respected manufacturer of sailing and racing yachts.

Since then X-Yachts has let its passion guide its boat building approach, taking every detail into account and continuously optimizing performance and outcomes. Innovation is at the heart of the company’s DNA, constantly collaborating with renowned Naval Architects, Yacht Designers and leading experts who are all pushing for excellence and striving to keep the boat performance consistently high.

Today X-Yachts is the largest independent, or non-group owned, producer of sailing yachts in Europe. It is also the only yacht builder in the world to have won the four most prestigious yacht races in the world: the Rolex Fastnet, Middle Sea Race, Sydney - Hobart and the Gold Cup Race. X-Yachts is the sailing world’s leading boatbuilder in terms of design, quality and performance.

Which models do X-Yachts produce?

X-Yachts produce a range of boats including the X-Yachts X-41 , X-Yachts X-46 , X-Yachts Xp 33 , X-Yachts Xp 38 and X-Yachts Xp 44 . For the full list of X-Yachts models currently listed on TheYachtMarket.com, see the model list in the search options on this page.

What types of boats do X-Yachts build?

X-Yachts manufactures a range of different types of boats. The ones listed on TheYachtMarket include Sloop , Cruiser , Racing boat , Aft cockpit and Cruiser/racer .

How much does a boat from X-Yachts cost?

Used boats from X-Yachts on TheYachtMarket.com range in price from £14,400 GBP to £1,110,000 GBP with an average price of £193,000 GBP . A wide range of factors can affect the price of used boats from X-Yachts, for example the model, age and condition.

Sign up to our newsletter

By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy & Cookie Policy

Change units of measure

This feature requires cookies to be enabled on your browser.

Show price in:

Show lengths, beam and draft in:

Show displacement or weight in:

Show capacity or volume in:

Show speed in:

Show distance in:

Photos, video show collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after cargo ship collision

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed Tuesday into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a large cargo ship.

The bridge's collapse has prompted huge emergency response, with the Baltimore City Fire Department describing the collapse as a mass-casualty incident, and rescue crews searching for seven people in the river. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency.

Baltimore  Mayor Brendon Scott  said on X that he was aware of the incident and was en route to the bridge. "Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway," he said.

The 1.6 mile, 4-lane bridge named for the author of the "Star-Spangled Banner," was the second-longest continuous-truss bridge span in the United States and third in the world.

Follow here for live updates → Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship collision; rescue effort underway

Photos show collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

Videos show francis scott key bridge's collapse.

The bridge's collapse, which came after it was struck by a container ship, was distributed on social media.

What did the Francis Scott Key Bridge look like before it was hit?

Contributing: Charles Ventura, Thao Nguyen and Susan Miller, USA TODAY .

• International

Baltimore bridge collapse

SCOTUS hears abortion pill case

Israel-Hamas war

RFK Jr. announces VP pick

Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez and Elise Hammond , CNN

US Embassy in touch with Singapore's port authority, State Department says

From CNN’s Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood

The US Embassy in Singapore has been in contact with the country’s Maritime and Port Authority, in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Miller said Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority “has offered to provide assistance to the US Coast Guard.” 

The tanker, which collided with the bridge causing the collapse, was Singapore-flagged and bound for Sri Lanka, but Miller said he was “not aware of any contacts with Sri Lanka.”

The ship   was chartered by  Danish shipping company Maersk  and was carrying their customers' cargo, the Danish shipping company told CNN. It also said the ship, DALI, is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group. 

Bridge collapse will have lasting impact on Maryland economy, local union head says

From CNN's Yahya Abou-Ghazala

The president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333 in Baltimore, Maryland, said the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge will have major consequences for the port’s workforce and the state’s economy for the foreseeable future.

"We are at a standstill, we make our living off of import and export cargo, unloading and loading, discharging and loading ships," Scott Cowan, president of ILA Local 333, said. "This is going to put a very big strain on the economy in the state of Maryland because the port of Baltimore is one of the main engines, main drivers of the economy of Maryland, this is going to create a big problem."

The ILA’s work relies on the flow of cargo ships through the port as its workers are responsible for securing loads on and off the deck, operating the cranes and running the boxes throughout the yard.

"Until those ships can come up and down the bay, the little bit of cargo that's in the terminal will be imported and exported out and then we'll be waiting for the channel to open — I don't know how long it's going to take," Cowan added.

Cowan said that these massive cargo shops are very difficult to stop — especially when you face issues with power outage and propulsion.

"This is not like a car, they don't have brakes," Cowan said.

Ocean carriers are being diverted to Port of Virginia after Baltimore bridge collapse 

From CNN’s Rebekah Riess

Ocean carriers are being moved away from the Port of Baltimore after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday. The Port of Virginia and the Port of Baltimore are coordinating diverting the ships to the Port of Virginia to eliminate the traffic in Baltimore’s port to “keep trade moving."

The Virginia and Maryland Departments of Transportation are also working to ensure uniform signage along roads “all the way up from Virginia into Maryland,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.

“We have our first ocean carrier that was supposed to be heading to Baltimore making a stop in Virginia and unloading all of their Baltimore cargo here. We've got capacity to do it, and I think that's really important,” Youngkin said.

"We've got high-level interaction everywhere needed and we just wait to be called and as soon as we are, we'll be moving," he added.

Patient discharged at University of Maryland Medical Center following bridge collapse

From CNN's Kit Maher and Maria Sole Campinoti

The patient who was taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Center following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has been discharged, according to a release from the University of Maryland Medical Center. 

Officials will hold a virtual briefing Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. with hospital officials to speak about how the hospital handled the incident.

Patient details will not be discussed.

It's been just over 12 hours since the Baltimore bridge collapse. Here's what we know now

From CNN Staff

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore  collapsed  at 1:27 a.m. ET Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot cargo ship.

If you're just reading in, here's where things stand now:

• Biden wants the federal government to pay: President Joe Biden said Tuesday he wants the federal government to bear the full cost of rebuilding the collapsed bridge, noting that it will not wait for the company who owns the container ship DALI to shoulder the costs. Funding could come from the Federal Highway Administration as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but it may require additional funding from Congress.
• Six people remain missing:  Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed in a press briefing that eight people were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. At least two people have already been rescued — one was taken to a hospital and has since been discharged, and the other is fine. The search continues for the other six.
• Tide conditions could complicate search: Authorities are carrying out a  search and rescue operation  using  sonar and infrared technologies  as well as drones, officials said. However, weather conditions in and above the water of the Patapsco River could complicate things. Officials may have to deal with coastal flood advisories, dangerous rip currents, cold water temperatures and tidal flow. So far, they have identified vehicles submerged in the water.
• How authorities minimized impact: Radio traffic in the moments before a cargo ship collided with the bridge captured how authorities stopped traffic and worked to clear the bridge seconds before the impact, including warnings of the ship approaching the bridge. CNN has confirmed that the bridge collapsed at 1:27 a.m. ET.

Other East Coast ports offer statements of support following Baltimore bridge collapse

From CNN’s Shawn Nottingham, Devon Sayers and Eva Roytburg

Some of the East Coast’s busiest ports are offering their support after the DALI cargo ship collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major artery road traffic, to collapse.  

South Carolina: “Our hearts are hurting for all those affected. We are sending support and strength to our sister port city during this difficult time,” South Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Christy Hall, SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin and Charleston Branch Pilots Association President Crayton Walters said in a joint statement.

South Carolina is home to the Port of Charleston, another major seaport off the Atlantic Ocean. The port said it hopes to learn from the incident that unfolded in Baltimore, adding they “have already had initial conversations regarding the incident, and we will jointly review harbor operations, procedures and state infrastructure.”

Georgia: In Georgia, home to ports in Savannah and Brunswick, the Georgia Ports Authority offered similar sentiments, noting “The Georgia Ports Authority offers our thoughts, prayers and support to our Port of Baltimore colleagues and everyone involved in this tragic accident.”

North Carolina: In a statement to CNN, the North Carolina Ports Authority said they are monitoring the situation and "are in close communication with our various partners, customers and port users as the situation continues to develop."

"Our thoughts are with the Port of Baltimore, the community, those directly impacted, and the first responders still engaged in the important search and rescue work," it said.

Authorities scrambled to clear Key Bridge in the seconds before impact, according to audio

From CNN’s Brian Rokus and David Williams

Radio traffic in the moments before a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore captures how authorities stopped traffic and worked to clear the bridge before the impact.

Officials warned of the ship approaching the bridge, according to a Broadcastify recording of the transmissions.

"I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge. There's a ship approaching that just lost their steering so until we get that under control, we've got to stop all traffic," the person said.

In the audio, units reported that the bridge had collapsed about 90 seconds later. CNN has confirmed that the bridge collapsed at 1:27 a.m. ET.

"The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever … everybody. The whole bridge just collapsed," a person is heard on the radio.

“Do we know what traffic was stopped?” another person later said.

“I can’t get to the other side, sir. The bridge is down," another person responded.

Ironworker who helped built the bridge says he's "in shock" following collapse

From CNN's Sunlen Serfaty

John Zimmerman was an ironworker who helped build the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the 1970s. He was woken up by his wife early this morning to turn on the news after news broke of the accident.

From looking at the footage, he says it appears that the dolphins, the concrete bumpers around the pilings meant to protect the structure, didn’t work because of the exact place and way the ship hit. He speculates that the ship seems to have perhaps avoided the bumpers or only side-swiped them.

He said, unfortunately, the ship seemed to have hit at the most vulnerable part of the bridge.

“It looks like it hit the only spot it could have hit to take the whole thing down,” he said. “It hit at probably the weakest part of the bridge.”

Zimmerman, who is now 83 years old, worked on the bridge for two years in the 1970s as a local 16 ironworker.

Tide conditions could complicate search and rescue operations, CNN meteorologist says

From CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam

Officials are conducting search and rescue efforts in Baltimore on Tuesday after a cargo ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse. At least eight people were on the bridge when it fell, and at least six of them are still unaccounted for, according to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.

But, weather conditions in and above the water of the Patapsco River could complicate search and rescue operations, CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam said.

A full moon spring tide is bringing two main impacts: coastal flood advisories around the Chesapeake Bay and dangerous rip currents, Van Dam said.

Another contributing factor is the way the water is moving. Water from the Patapsco River will flow out of Baltimore Harbor as low tide approaches Tuesday afternoon. Then, during high tides, there will be a reversal, with water coming back into the harbor. Van Dam said this could mean more difficult conditions for search and rescue boats.

Additionally, the cold water temperatures could be dangerous for people still in the water. Right now, the water in the Patapsco River is about 40-50 degrees. The human survivability at that temperature is one to three hours.

Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses After Boat Collision. Mass Casualties Feared

BALTIMORE — A container ship rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to snap and plunge into the river below. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were searching for survivors.

Two people were rescued from the waters under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace. He said authorities “may be looking for upwards of seven people” but said that number could change. It was not clear if the two rescued were included in the seven.

Read More: Mass Casualties Feared After Baltimore’s Largest Bridge Collapses Amid Boat Collision. Here’s What to Know

It was not immediately clear what caused the cargo ship to crash into the bridge long before the busy morning commute in what one official called a “developing mass casualty event” in a major American city just outside of Washington.

The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds—a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn — BNO News (@BNONews) March 26, 2024

Sonar has indicated that there are vehicles in the water, where the temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Earlier, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press that several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck. The bridge came down in the middle of night when traffic would be lighter than during the day when thousands of cars traverse the span.

Cartwright called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event,” though he didn’t know at the time how many people were affected.

He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor. The river leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed. The FBI was also on the scene.

Synergy Marine Group—which owns and manages the ship called the “Dali”—confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.

The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, according to the website.

In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

More Must-Reads From TIME

• Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
• Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
• The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
• Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
• The UAE Is on a Mission to Become an AI Power
• Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
• The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

You May Also Like

Baltimore's biggest bridge collapses after being hit by a cargo ship, videos show. Mass casualty event declared.

• Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on Tuesday morning.
• A livestream captured the moment a ship collided with one of the bridge's support beams.
• Authorities are calling it a "mass casualty event" and say 20 people went into the water.

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday morning after it was struck by a large container ship.

A video of the incident was posted early on Tuesday morning to X, formerly Twitter. In the video, the container ship the Dali is seen colliding with one of the bridge's support beams. Smoke is seen billowing from the ship before the bridge began crumbling.

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn — BNO News (@BNONews) March 26, 2024

"MAJOR BALTIMORE TRAFFIC ALERT: AVOID I-695 southeast corridor. I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike," the Maryland Transportation Authority said in an X post on Tuesday morning.

A representative for the Baltimore Police Department told ABC News that "at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge."

Emergency services teams, including divers and at least two helicopters, responded to the scene, per Baltimore County's police scanner in the hour and a half after the bridge's collapse.

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland, declared a state of emergency early on Tuesday.

He said he was working to "quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," per the BBC.

In a news conference later in the day, Moore said that the crew on the ship notified authorities they had lost power.

Moore told reporters that the ship was moving at a "very rapid speed" and that the call to the authorities stopped a greater disaster from occurring, with cars redirected away from the bridge.

He also said the bridge was "fully up to code" and had no structural issues.

Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland's transportation secretary, told reporters that there were workers on the bridge at the time repairing potholes, and that six people were unaccounted for.

The White House said it was "closely monitoring" the situation, and that there was no indication of any nefarious intent.

"Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident," a spokesperson told BI in a statement.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on X that he had offered the DOT's support to Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.

The Baltimore Fire Department estimates that up to 20 people people went into the water, the BBC reported .

Related stories

Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said at a press conference early Tuesday that two people had been recovered from the water. One refused service, while another was transported to a local trauma center "in very serious condition," he said.

The fire department had not made contact with the ship's captain yet, he said.

A livestream view of the area at around 3:00 a.m. local time showed the bridge's structure partially submerged in the harbor and in several pieces.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said that the ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, ABC News reported .

The crew notified officials that they had lost control and warned of a possible collision, the report said, per ABC News.

Structural engineer Ian Firth told the BBC that the heavy ship would have struck the bridge support backed by many thousands of metric tons.

"The support is a very, relatively, flimsy structure when you look at it, it's a kind of trestle structure with individual legs," he told the outlet. "So, the bridge has collapsed simply as a result of this very large impact force."

Barbara Rossi, an engineering professor at the University of Oxford, told BI: "According to what I could see online, the bridge has received a huge impact force on one of its supporting structures."

"The impacting force must have been immense," she said.

The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based firm. The firm confirmed in a statement on Tuesday morning that their vessel had struck one of the bridge's pillars, per TradeWinds .

"All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," read the firm's statement.

It had 22 crew aboard, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in a statement .

According to Grace Ocean, the vessel was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka when the accident took place.

Maersk, the ship's charterer, confirmed that vessel company Synergy Group operates the ship. Maersk's spokesperson told BI in a statement that the company is "horrified" by the events, and added that no Maersk employees were on board.

"We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy," it added.

As of Tuesday morning, authorities warned mariners and drone operators to avoid the waters and nearby airspace.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. said in an X post that the authorities "are closely monitoring the ongoing situation at the Key Bridge."

"Our prayers remain with all those impacted," Olszewski wrote.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in March 1977 as the final link in the Baltimore Beltway, according to the MDTA .

It cost $60.3 million to build and is 10.9 miles long, per the MDTA.

Watch: A Diwali celebration in western India turned to tragedy after a deadly bridge collapse

• Main content

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Baltimore bridge collapse: at least six missing after ship crashes into bridge

Biden calls incident a ‘terrible accident’ and mayor says rescue efforts continuing after cargo vessel hit Francis Scott Key Bridge

• Baltimore bridge collapse – latest updates

A major bridge in Baltimore , Maryland, has snapped and collapsed after a container ship collided with it early on Tuesday, sending a number of vehicles into the water.

Baltimore fire department officials said at least six people were still missing, after reports that a 948ft Singapore-flagged container ship leaving port on its way to Sri Lanka crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It added that up to 20 people and several vehicles had fallen into the river and declared it a “mass casualty event”.

A video posted on X appeared to show the vessel striking one of the bridge’s central supports, causing much of the 2.6km bridge to give way as a number of vehicles fell into the Patapsco River below.

Joe Biden addressed the bridge collapse in a public briefing about midday, saying that all indications were that it was a “terrible accident” rather than an intentional act”.

The president also said he was thinking of those who remained unaccounted for amid the search and rescue efforts around the bridge, a key traffic artery whose destruction is also expected to cause months of travel disruption in a city with more than 575,000 residents.

“We’re with you. We’re going to stay with you as long as it takes,” said Biden, adding that he intended to travel to Baltimore as soon as possible. “You’re Maryland tough. You’re Baltimore strong.”

Officials said the ship issued a mayday as it went off course and seemed to lose power, which Baltimore officials said allowed them to prevent more vehicles from coming on to the bridge. The ship then appeared to catch fire as part of the bridge collapsed over it, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the air.

Two people have been rescued, with one of them “severely” injured and in critical condition, officials said in a pre-dawn press conference. There were reports that there were workers on the bridge engaged in basic road maintenance when the collision occurred.

The temperature in the river was about 47F (8C) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began. “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland transportation authority posted on X. “I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike. Active scene,” it later added.

Calls to 911 had come in at about 1.30am, reporting a vessel travelling outbound from Baltimore that had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse, said Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.

“Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,” Cartwright said. He added that it was too early to know how many people were affected but described the collapse as a “developing mass casualty event”.

Cartwright said it appeared that there were “some cargo or retainers” that appeared to be dangling from the bridge, creating unsafe and unstable conditions that were complicating the rescue operation. “This is a dire emergency,” he said.

Matthew West, a petty officer first class for the coastguard in Baltimore, told the New York Times that the coastguard received a report of an impact at 1.27am ET. West said the Dali, a 948ft (290-metre) Singapore-flagged cargo ship, had hit the bridge, which is part of Interstate 695.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that the vessel was registered in Singapore and said the agency was coordinating with the US Coast Guard and the ship’s management company to help. It also said it would investigate the incident itself.

There were 22 crew onboard at the time of the incident, Singapore said.

The shipping company Maersk said that it chartered the container ship in Baltimore, with the operator named as Synergy Marine Group. Maersk confirmed that there were 22 crew, and said they were all Indian. None of them were Maersk crew or personnel.

It added that there were 4,679 containers on board, roughly half of its 10,000 capacity.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” the company said in a statement.

The Dali had left Baltimore at 1am and was heading for the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, according to the maritime data platform MarineTraffic. Synergy Marine Group, the manager of the Dali, confirmed that the ship had collided with one of the pillars of the bridge. It said all crew members, including the two pilots, had been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.

“Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the Dali has now mobilised its qualified individual incident response service,” it said.

The same vessel was also involved in a collision in 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium, according to Vessel Finder and the maritime incident archive Shipwrecklog.

Its bow reportedly scraped the side of the quay while it was leaving port, significantly damaging several meters of the hull, and it was reportedly detained by authorities afterward.

According to Vessel Finder , the weather was fine at the time and the incident was blamed on the ship’s master and pilot on board. There were reportedly no injuries.

The Baltimore mayor, Brandon M Scott, called it an “unthinkable tragedy” at a press conference held as dawn broke on Baltimore. “Never would you imagine” seeing the bridge collapse, he added. “It looked like something out of an action movie.”

Asked about how long it would take to rebuild the bridge, he said: “The discussion right now should be about the people, the lives, the souls … there are people in the water that we have to get out and that’s the only thing we should be talking about.”

He and the county executive, Johnny Olszewski Jr, said emergency personnel were at the scene and rescue efforts were under way.

Officials added that there was “absolutely no indication that there was any terrorism or that this was done on purpose”.

The Maryland governor, Wes Moore, said in a statement that he had declared a state of emergency.

He said the ship had lost power around the time when the cargo ship hit the Key Bridge, and the crew issued a “mayday” request. Moore said that officials were able to slow the flow of traffic, preventing more vehicles from falling into the water.

“These people are heroes. They saved lives last night,” Moore said, adding that Baltimore was working with an interagency government team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.

Moore added the bridge was “fully up to code” before Tuesday’s accident and that rebuilding the bridge would be a long-term effort.

In a statement, the White House said it is “closely monitoring” the events. “The US Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for those who remain unaccounted for as a result of the bridge collapse,” it said. “Senior White House officials are in touch with the governor and mayor to offer any federal assistance they need. There is no indication of any nefarious intent.”

It added that “our hearts go out” to the victims and families of what it called a “horrific incident”.

Built in 1977, the bridge spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the US’s east coast. It is named for the author of the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

Gloria Oladipo , Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

• Baltimore bridge collapse
• Water transport

Most viewed

Three people found dead, two survive after fishing boat capsizes near Port Lincoln

Three people are now confirmed to have died after a fishing boat with five people onboard capsized near Port Lincoln on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula late on Monday afternoon.

At 6:30am on Tuesday, police found a body in the water, then another at 9am, before a third was discovered at 2:15pm.

The boat overturned overnight around Spilsby Island, 45 kilometres east of Port Lincoln in the Spencer Gulf.

Two survivors — a 44-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy, both from the Adelaide suburb of Torrens Park — were found on a reef and winched to safety in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The surviving pair were taken to hospital where they are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries including hypothermia.

Police were told by the pair that the boat was capsized by a wave at about 4pm on Monday.

Family raised the alarm at about 8:30pm on Monday when the boat failed to return from a fishing trip that morning.

Superintendent Paul Bahr said investigations into the circumstances that surrounded the incident would continue.

"They were fishing near Spilsby Island when they were swamped by a wave, overturning the boat and throwing everyone into the water," Superintendent Bahr said. 

"We're still talking to the survivors, so we're still trying to put that picture together in terms of how they ended up on the reef away from the boat."

He said a police helicopter located the upturned fishing boat at about 2am on Tuesday.

"The boat itself has also been recovered and it's making its way back to Port Lincoln and that will be offloaded later today," he said. 

"It will be subject to further forensic examination and also any examination the coroner may require."

Aerial and ocean searches underway on Tuesday have now concluded. 

In a statement, SAPOL said it will prepare a report for the coroner. 

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

One person found dead, search continues for two missing after fishing boat capsizes in south australian waters.

• Maritime Accidents and Incidents
• Port Lincoln
• Recreational Fishing