Boat ran aground in Antibes: three beaches closed for two days

On the evening of Monday, 17 August, a ten-metre pleasure boat ran aground on Marineland beach — between Antibes and Villeneuve-Loubet. Because of the risk of hydrocarbon leakage, the Antibes town hall closed bathing immediately on three beaches; the ban was lifted only on the morning of Wednesday, 19 August.

How the boat ran aground

The vessel, about ten metres long, was thrown ashore on the evening of 17 August. The city authorities did not report the causes of the incident — according to France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, there were no injuries in the accident.

Which beaches were closed

The town hall banned bathing on three stretches of the coast: Marineland beach, Plage des Groules (les Groules) and the sector on the eastern border of the commune, where Antibes neighbours Villeneuve-Loubet. The town hall’s wording was “possible risk of hydrocarbon pollution”: fuel from the boat’s tank could have entered the water, although at the time the ban was imposed a leak had not been confirmed.

Such precautionary measures are not uncommon in the height of the season: in early August the Antibes authorities had already closed six wooded areas due to the high risk of fires.

Evacuation of the vessel

On Tuesday, 18 August, at around 14:00 the boat was refloated and removed from the beach. During the day divers joined the operation — they recovered the engine from the water, which had remained on the seabed after the hull was salvaged.

The beach is named after the neighbouring Marineland aquarium, from where, several years ago, the park’s last dolphins and orcas were relocated — the park itself is in no way connected to the incident; the boat ran aground on the open coastline.

When the ban was lifted

The ban remained in effect until 8:00 on Wednesday, 19 August. After the boat and its engine were removed from the beach, and no visible traces of pollution were found on the water or sand, the town hall reopened all three beaches to holidaymakers.