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Princess Diana’s Former Yacht That She Vacationed on with Boyfriend Dodi Fayed Sinks in France

All seven passengers were rescued after the superyacht, dubbed Cujo, sank beneath the Mediterranean Sea on July 29

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

Best Image/BACKGRID; Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes

Princess Diana ’s former yacht that she enjoyed her last summer vacation on before her death has sunk off the coast of France, according to The Independent . 

The boat, dubbed Cujo , was frequented by the late princess and her boyfriend at the time, Dodi Fayed , in the summer of 1997 before they both died in a car crash in late August that year. 

All seven passengers on board were rescued in time before the vessel sank below the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, July 29. An officer said that the “ship was sinking due to a leak” after it allegedly hit an unidentified object on the French Riviera, The Independent reports. 

Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes

Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes, a branch of the French military, released a statement addressing the incident on their official Facebook page . They state the Antibes Nautical Brigade first responded to a distress call at 12:30 p.m. local time for a yacht located 35 kilometers off the coast of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. 

When they arrived at the scene 45 minutes later, the ship was already sinking and the cabins had begun to flood. The seven passengers were already transferred to a life raft and examined for injuries before being taken back to shore. 

Princess Diana and Fayed enjoyed spending time together aboard the 20-meter superyacht that first launched in 1972, especially around the Italian Riviera, according to Boat International . 

The pair first met at a polo match in 1986 in which Fayed was playing against Diana’s then-husband, Prince Charles . Diana and Fayed didn’t connect romantically until nearly 10 years later when Fayed’s father, Mohamed al Fayed, invited her and her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry , to vacation at their villa in St. Tropez, France.  

Before Diana’s romance with the film producer began to develop, the Prince and Princess of Wales had finalized their divorce in August 1996. Diana announced that she agreed to her husband's request for divorce earlier that year in February. 

A representative of the princess released a statement at the time: "The Princess of Wales has agreed to Prince Charles's request for a divorce. The Princess will continue to be involved in all decisions relating to the children and will remain at Kensington Palace with offices in St. James's Palace . The Princess of Wales will retain the title and be known as Diana, Princess of Wales."

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Diana died at the age of 36 after going into cardiac arrest from internal injuries she sustained during a high-speed car crash in Paris, France . Dodi and the car’s driver, Henri Paul, were killed instantly in the fatal accident. 

Reports indicate the car was traveling at 121 mph in a narrow tunnel along the Seine River in an effort to escape paparazzi tailing them on motorcycles. It was also reported that Paul was legally drunk when the crash occurred.

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Party Yacht Where Princess Diana Spent Her Final Vacation Sinks in France

One more artifact from the late Princess Diana’s life is no more: The Cujo , the superyacht where she and boyfriend Dodi Fayed spent many sunny days, including their final summer vacation before they both died in a car crash in August 1997, has sunk in the French Riviera, according to French authorities .

Seven passengers were rescued from the boat on the afternoon of July 29 after it struck an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer and struck a leak that would prove to be the end of its voyages. By the time the Antibes Nautical Brigade, part of the French military’s Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes, responded to the distress call about 45 minutes later, all seven passengers had been evacuated to a life raft and the ship had started sinking.

The yacht was 20 meters long, and originally launched in 1972. According to BOAT International , Austrian Jon von Neumann, who introduced the Porsche brand to the United States, originally commissioned the boat and asked that it be built to break speed records.

After Neumann, the Cujo was owned by the family of Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi , before coming into Fayed’s care, according to the New York Post . In addition to Diana, Fayed hosted celebrities like Brooke Shields, Bruce Willis , and Clint Eastwood on the yacht in the late ‘90s. According to the Robb Report, later owner Simon Kidston sold the boat to “a young member of a prominent Italian business family” in 2021.

Paparazzi swarmed Diana and Fayed’s summer 1997 adventures onboard the Cujo and the Jonikal , another yacht on which the couple spent time sailing in St. Tropez, including just days before their death. They were hot gossip, with Diana having finalized her divorce from then-prince Charles less than a year before. At the tail end of season five of The Crown on Netflix, Diana is invited to vacation asea with Fayed with her children, Prince Harry and Prince William , a trip that did happen in real life.

Harry recounted the July 1997 jaunt in his memoir, Spare . “Everything about that trip to St. Tropez was heaven,” he wrote. 

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Yacht that Princess Diana spent last summer on with Dodi Al-Fayed sinks to bottom of Mediterranean

Cujo, which made front-page news around the world back in the summer of 1997 when Diana was entertained on board a year after her divorce from Prince Charles, went down in 2500m (8200ft) of water.

Thursday 3 August 2023 17:00, UK

A motor yacht used by Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed on their final summer holiday in the South of France before they died in a Paris car crash has sunk.

The 19m (62ft) Cujo went down 21 miles (35km) off Beaulieu-sur-Mer after sending out a mayday call last Saturday.

The seven people on board the luxury vessel, which was taking on water, were rescued by teams from Antibes before it sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean at a depth of 2500m (8200ft).

They were safely returned to shore.

The area was monitored for pollution as the boat sank with 7,000 litres of diesel in its tanks.

Cujo made front page news around the world back in the summer of 1997 when Al-Fayed entertained Diana onboard, a year after her divorce from Prince Charles, which was finalised in August 1996.

That summer, Diana was also photographed on Sokar, the yacht then owned by al Fayed's billionaire father Mohamed.

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It had previously been named Jonikal.

Cujo was built in Italy in 1972 for businessman John von Neumann who told the Italian Baglietto shipyard that he wanted the world's fastest motor yacht.

She was fitted with two 18-cylinder engines giving her a top speed of 42 knots.

Van Neumann then sold the boat to the son of Saudi businessman and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and he sold her on to his cousin, al Fayed.

Cujo was frequently moored off St Tropez, a famous celebrity hangout on the French Riviera, with guests including Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis and Bruce Willis.

Following the death of Diana and Al-Fayed in central Paris on 31 August 1997, Cujo fell into disrepair.

She was decommissioned in 1999, and spent years in storage, before being restored by new owners.

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Cujo yacht sinks: Infamous 80-foot boat used by Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed in final holiday before their deaths goes down after 'hitting object' in the French Riviera

• Luxury vessel has plunged 8,200ft to the bottom of the Mediterranean
• Cujo sank some 18 miles off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, near Nice, on Saturday
• It was once owned by Prince Diana's millionaire boyfriend, Dodi Fayed

By Peter Allen and Perkin Amalaraj

Published: 05:30 EDT, 3 August 2023 | Updated: 10:16 EDT, 3 August 2023

View comments

The luxury motor-yacht enjoyed by Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed on their final summer holiday in the South of France days before their deaths in August 1997 has sunk to the bottom of the sea. 

Cujo, once a favourite of Hollywood superstars, disappeared below the waves of the Mediterranean after hitting an unidentified object some 18 miles off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera, on Saturday.

Seven people on board were rescued following the accident, but the boat ended up at a depth of almost 8,200ft (2,500m), local police said.

'The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,' said one officer. 'His ship was sinking due to a leak.

'Rescue boats were sent from Antibes and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull.

'Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn't stop the boat sinking.'

Salvage launches also arrived, but could not save the boat.

Cujo, a yacht once owned by Princess Diana's millionaire boyfriend Dodi Fayed, is seen sinking off Beaulieu-sur-Mer near Nice

Princess Diana on Cujo's deck as it comes into port in St Tropez in August 1997

The Princess on Cujo, where she spent her final summer holiday before she was killed in a car crash in Paris

Diana with Dodi Fayed during their holiday in the Mediterranean off the South of France

The boat disappears below the waves before coming to rest 8.200ft below the surface

Millionaire Dodi Fayed reportedly spent £1million to refit the boat after he bought it

Cujo disappeared below the waves of the Mediterranean on Saturday after hitting an unidentified object some 18 miles off Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera

All those on board, including Cujo's Italian owner, were placed in a rescue boat, and taken back to shore without injury.

Reports about Cujo – an Indian word that means 'Unstoppable Force' – dominated the media in August 1997, when it was owned by Diana's boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.

The multi-millionaire film producer had spent some £1million refitting the boat, and wooed Diana on board as the world's media looked on.

Just days later the couple were killed in a car crash in central Paris caused by their drunk driver.

That summer, Diana was also photographed on Sokar, the yacht then owned by Dodi's father, retail billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, which was previously named Jonikal.

The pair were seen kissing and embracing on the deck less than a year after Diana and Prince Charles agreed their divorce. 

Diana, Princess of Wales, right, and her companion Dodi Fayed, walk on a pontoon in the French Riviera resort of St Tropez having just disembarked from Cujo on August 22, 1997

Princess Diana on Jonikal, which was owned by Dodi's father, Mohamed al-Fayed

The Princess on board Jonikal, which was later renamed Sokar

Diana, then 36, was spotted strutting on the deck, making the most of the Mediterranean sun and her new romance.

A snap of the royal gazing into the distance from the yacht's diving board was one of the last pictures ever taken of Diana.

Cujo was built in Italy in 1972 for businessman John von Neumann after he told Italy's Baglietto shipyard that he wanted the world's fastest motor yacht.

She was fitted with two 18-cylinder engines that ensured she had a top speed of 42 knots.

Van Neumann then sold the boat to the son of Adnan Khashoggi, the world's richest arms dealer, and he sold her on to his cousin, Dodi Fayed.

Dodi Fayed and Diana are seen together aboard Dodi's father's yacht in St Tropez less than a year after Diana and Prince Charles had settled their divorce

The couple being ferried in a speedboat in the waters off St Tropez in July 1997

Cujo was frequently moored off St Tropez, the most famous celebrity hotspot on the Riviera, with guests including Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis and Bruce Willis on board.

Following the death of Princes Diana and Dodi, Cujo fell into disrepair.

It was decommissioned in 1999, and spent years in storage, before being restored by new owners.

The boat was bought for a song in 2020 by luxury vehicle dealer Simon Kidston. The Mail reported that he paid just £138,000

He claimed to have bought the yacht by accident, telling the luxury magazine Robb Report :  'On the day of the auction, I was tied up with clients so asked a colleague to go down and take a look. I told him that if it was going cheaply, put in a bid for a bit of fun.

The boat was reportedly sold in 2020 to an Italian socialite who had fallen in love with it

Luxury car dealer Simon Kidston claims to have bought it at auction for just £138,000

Simon claimed to have bought the boat for a laugh, telling the Robb Report he bid 'for a bit of fun'

'The bidding opened at just 150,000 euros [£129,500].  My colleague bid 160,000 euros.

'Trouble was, no one else bid. The hammer went down and I had bought a boat. The feeling was a mix of excitement tinged with terror.'

He told the magazine that he sold the historic boat to a young Italian socialist in time for his birthday.

'A young member of a prominent Italian business family - he's 30 years old - had seen Cujo, fallen in love with her and asked if she was for sale. He took delivery just in time for his birthday.'

Share or comment on this article: Cujo yacht sinks: Infamous boat used by Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed in final holiday goes down

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The Famous Superyacht on Which Dodi Fayed Courted Princess Diana in the Summer of 1997 Sinks to the Bottom of the Mediterranean Sea

If you were around that summer 26 years ago, you remember this vessel well from the hordes of photos taken of it with the Princess of Wales aboard.

Last August 31 was the 25-year anniversary of the deaths of Princess Diana , Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul, who passed away as a result of a Parisian car accident in the early morning hours of that day in 1997. (Diana’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was severely injured but survived the crash.) The summer of 1997 will come to the forefront once more in the forthcoming season six of Netflix’s The Crown , due to debut later this year, and we will no doubt see scenes of Diana and Dodi from their final summer together aboard the superyacht Cujo—a vessel that has made headlines this week.

The Cujo sinking on July 29, 2023

In an unexpected twist to the story, 26 years after Diana and Dodi enjoyed its comforts, Cujo sunk to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea on July 29, with seven passengers aboard. (All seven are safe and unharmed, thankfully.) People reports that the yacht—of which thousands upon thousands of paparazzi photos were taken in the summer of 1997, as the press tried to figure out the relationship between Diana and Dodi—was “sinking due to a leak” after it allegedly hit an unidentified object on the French Riviera, according to an officer. “The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,” an officer said, per The Independent . “Rescue boats were sent from Antibes and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull. Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat sinking.”

Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes, a branch of the French military, released a statement addressing the incident on its Facebook page, where it was disclosed that the Antibes Nautical Brigade first responded to a distress call at 12:30 p.m. local time for a yacht located 35 kilometers off the coast of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, People reports. “When they arrived at the scene 45 minutes later, the ship was already sinking, and the cabins had begun to flood,” the outlet writes. “The seven passengers were already transferred to a life raft and examined for injuries before being taken back to shore.”

Princess Diana that final summer aboard Fayed's boat

After first meeting at a polo match in 1986—in which Dodi was playing against Diana’s then-husband, Prince Charles —Diana and Dodi reconnected romantically over a decade later after Dodi’s father, Mohamed al Fayed, invited the princess and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry , to vacation at their villa in St. Tropez, France. Diana and Dodi developed a connection aboard the 20-meter superyacht, as the world watched and wondered through paparazzi photos taken of them at the time. Dodi himself owned the Cujo and had spent around £1 million refitting the boat “and wooed Diana on board, as the world’s media looked on,” The Independent reports.

Princess Diana and Prince Harry on the Fayed boat

Princess Diana waves at bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, who would be the sole survivor in the crash that took her life not long after this photo was taken

We’ll never know what would have come from the seemingly budding romance, as the two were killed riding side by side together through a tunnel in Paris—Dodi instantly in the tunnel, and Diana later at the hospital. The car in which they were riding was traveling at 121 mph in order to escape the aforementioned paparazzi chasing them on motorcycles—trailing them this time on land rather than, as they had all summer, at sea. The chase, plus driver Paul’s intoxication, led to the triple fatal crash and the end to any happiness Diana and Dodi might have shared together—the beginnings of which are now resting at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Cujo—frequently moored off St. Tropez—saw other celebrity guests including Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis. After Dodi’s death, Cujo fell into disrepair and was decommissioned two years later in 1999. It spent years in storage before being restored by new owners.

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World famous yacht that Princess Diana had final summer holiday on sinks

The world-famous celebrity yacht enjoyed by Princess Diana on her final summer holiday in the south of France has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Cujo, once also a favourite of Hollywood superstars, disappeared below the Mediterranean waves after hitting an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera, on Saturday.

Seven people on board were rescued following the accident, but the boat ended up at a depth of almost 2500m (8200ft), said local police.

“The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,” said one officer. “His ship was sinking due to a leak.

“Rescue boats were sent from Antibes, and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull.

“Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat sinking.”

Salvage launches also arrived, but could not save the boat sinking, around 18 nautical miles off the coast.

All of those on board, including the Cujo’s Italian owner, were placed in a rescue boat, and taken back to shore without injury.

Reports about Cujo – an Indian word that means ‘Unstoppable Force’ – dominated the media in August 1997, when it was owned by Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed.

The multi-millionaire film producer had spent some £1million refitting the boat, and wooed Diana onboard, as the world’s media looked on.

This was shortly before the couple died in a car crash in central Paris caused by their drunk driver.

That summer, Diana was also photographed on Sokar, the yacht then owned by Al-Fayed’s father, retail billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Cujo was built in Italy in 1972 for businessman John von Neumann after he told Italy’s Baglietto shipyard that he wanted the world’s fastest motoryacht.

She was fitted with two 18-cylinder engines that ensured she had a top speed of 42 knots.

Following the death of Princes Diana and Mr Al-Fayed, Cujo fell into disrepair.

She was decommissioned in 1999, and spent years in storage, before being restored by new owners.

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Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed ‘Love Boat’ Sinks to the Bottom of the Sea

The yacht that propelled Diana and Dodi’s relationship into the headlines—and arguably set in motion the sequence of events that led to her death—has sunk in the Mediterranean.

Royalist Correspondent

Michel Dufour/WireImage/ Getty Images

It was once an iconic part of the Princess Diana story, but the yacht on which Diana spent her final summer partying with Dodi Fayed now lies at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

The boat, Cujo , sank after apparently hitting a mystery object off the coast of Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the South of France, the Times of London reported.

Now resting in a watery grave some 7,000 feet beneath the surface, Cujo was once a byword for glamor when it was the floating playground of the film producer and playboy Dodi Fayed, the son of the billionaire Harrods owner Mohammed Fayed.

It was on board Cujo, off the coast of St. Tropez in the summer of 1997, that Dodi and Diana were first photographed together. The pictures on board sparked tabloid rumors that they were a couple, which built into “love boat” hysteria as the summer progressed.

“St. Trop” was swiftly swarmed by an army of paparazzi photographers and at the end of August, the couple decamped to the Fayed-owned Ritz hotel in Paris. The paps followed and it was from here that the couple set off on their fateful last journey in a speeding car driven by a drunk chauffeur, which then crashed in an underpass , killing Diana, Dodi, and their driver, Henri Paul.

The Times reports on the boat’s “long and glamorous history” saying that it was built in Italy in 1972 (long before Stephen King would give the same name to a monstrous St. Bernard in one of his novels) for a millionaire Porsche dealer who declared he wanted the world’s fastest yacht. Cujo, which could do 40 knots per hour as a result, was subsequently sold to the son of arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, reputedly the world’s richest man at the time. He then sold it to his cousin, Dodi Fayed.

Fayed hosted glamorous guests such as Brooke Shields, Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis, and Bruce Willis on the boat, but, after his death, the Times reports, the yacht fell into disrepair.

It then sold at auction to its current owner, a wealthy Italian, for $250,000, in 2020. The owner was at the helm when the boat sank, the Times said, citing French media reports which also suggested the boat had “regular maintenance problems.”

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Famous yacht used by Princess Diana in her final summer sinks to bottom of the sea

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A yacht on which Diana, Princess of Wales , spent part of her final summer alive has sunk in the Mediterranean.

Cujo, which once belonged to the Egyptian film titan Dodi Al Fayed , sank on Monday about 35km off the coast of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France , on July 29.

Alpes-Maritimes police said on Facebook Monday that maritime officers responded to a distress call at 12:30pm of a 19-foot boat with seven people on board.

A rescue boat pulled up about 45 minutes later to find the yacht’s bow partially submerged with ‘cabins of the yacht already flooded’.

The seven passengers, including the ship’s owner, were floating safely nearby in a life raft, the departmental force added.

‘Only a few suitcases located in the kitchen and on the deck could be retrieved by the gendarmes,’ Alpes-Maritimes police said, using the French word for local police officers.

‘The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,’ said one officer. ‘His ship was sinking due to a leak.

‘Rescue boats were sent from Antibes, and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull.

‘Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat sinking’.

Rescuers left the scene about 18 nautical miles off the coast with the passengers in tow, watching as the vessel ‘slowly darkened’ and sank 8,200, the force said.

Those rescued included the motor yacht’s latest owner, an Italian man with a home on the French Riveria.

In breezy white shorts, photographs of Diana and Dodi aboard the Cujo hit propelled the couple into the headlines in August 1997.

Diana and Dodi, the son of the billionaire Harrods owner Mohammed Fayed, started dating after she took Prince William and Prince Harry to St Tropez to vacation with his family.

Cujo had for years been the playboy’s floating playground for extravagant parties.

After the trip, Diana penned the producer a letter thanking him.

‘This comes with all the love in the world and as always a million heartfelt thanks for bringing such joy into this chick’s life,’ the letter read, according to the  Associated Press .

But only weeks later, both would be killed in a Paris car crash after a high-speed chase  fleeing from paparazzi pursuing them in cars and motorcycles after a date.

As Britain mourned, the Cujo fell into disrepair. It was built in Italy in 1972 for John von Neumann, a high-powered car dealer and socialist keen to own the world’s fastest yacht.

The yacht was then passed around by some of the world’s wealthiest figures: Van Neumann then sold the boat to the son of Adnan Khashoggi, the world’s richest arms dealer, and he sold her on to his cousin, Dodi.

Yet Cujo was decommissioned following Dodi’s death and spent years in storage before a new owner in 2020 won it at auction for $250,000 and brought it back to sea.

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Yacht used by Princess Diana and lover Dodi Fayed on final summer holiday sinks

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The world-famous celebrity yacht used by Princess Diana on her final summer holiday in France has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Cujo, once also a favourite of Hollywood superstars, disappeared below the Mediterranean waves after hitting an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera, on Saturday.

Seven people on board were rescued following the accident, but the boat ended up at a depth of almost 2500m around 18 nautical miles off the coast.

“The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,” said one officer. “His ship was sinking due to a leak.

“Rescue boats were sent from Antibes, and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull.

“Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat sinking.”

All of those on board, including the Cujo‘s Italian owner, were placed in a rescue boat, and taken back to shore uninjured.

Reports about Cujo - an Indian word that means ‘Unstoppable Force’ - dominated the media in August 1997, when it was owned by Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed.

The multi-millionaire film producer had spent some £1m refitting the boat, and wooed Diana on board, as the world’s media looked on.

This was shortly before the couple died in a car crash in central Paris caused by their drunk driver.

That summer, Diana was also photographed on Sokar, the yacht then owned by Al-Fayed’s father, retail billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Cujo was built in Italy in 1972 for businessman John von Neumann after he told Italy’s Baglietto shipyard that he wanted the world’s fastest motor yacht.

She was fitted with two 18-cylinder engines that ensured she had a top speed of 42 knots.

Van Neumann then sold the boat to the son of Adnan Khashoggi, the world’s richest arms dealer, and he sold her on to his cousin, Dodi Al-Fayed.

Cujo was frequently moored off St Tropez, the most famous celebrity hotspot on the Riviera, with celebrity guests including Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis and Bruce Willis on board.

Following the death of Princess Diana and Mr Al-Fayed, Cujo fell into disrepair.

She was decommissioned in 1999, and spent years in storage, before being restored by new owners.

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Diana and Dodi’s final holiday yacht sinks off French Riviera

Cujo foundered around 18 miles off Beaulieu-sur-Mer on Saturday after hitting unidentified object

The yacht used by Diana, Princess of Wales, and her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, for their final summer holiday in the South of France has sunk off the French Riviera after hitting an unidentified object.

The Cujo, once favoured by Hollywood stars, foundered around 18 miles off Beaulieu-sur-Mer on Saturday.

Police said seven people on board were rescued unharmed following the accident, but the yacht sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean at a depth of almost 8,200ft.

“The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,” one officer was cited as telling French newspaper Le Figaro. “His ship was sinking because of a leak.”

“Rescue boats were sent from Antibes, and, after making sure everyone was safe, gendarmes detected a significant water leak at the level of the starboard front hull. Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat from sinking.”

Salvage boats rushed to the scene but could not save the stricken vessel. 

The Cujo rose to media prominence in August 1997 when Fayed bought the vessel, gave it a million-pound refit and invited Diana on board. Images of the pair enjoying their offshore romance were published around the world.

That summer, Diana was also photographed on Sokar , a yacht then owned by Fayed’s father, the retail billionaire Mohamed Fayed. 

The pair were seen embracing on the deck less than a year after Diana and the then Prince Charles agreed their divorce.

Shortly afterwards, Diana and Fayed died in a car crash in central Paris .

The Cujo then fell into disrepair. Decommissioned in 1999, it spent years in storage before being bought in 2020 by Simon Kidston, a luxury vehicle dealer, who reportedly paid just £171,000 for it.

He told Robb Report, a luxury magazine, that he later sold the boat to a young Italian socialite. Nice Matin, a French newspaper, said the person’s family owned a property in nearby Cap-Ferrat.

It was unclear whether the person referred to by the newspaper, who was unnamed, still owned the Cujo when it sank.

One local regular at the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer told the paper that the yacht “often had maintenance problems. It wasn’t in the flush of youth”.

Yacht where Princess Diana spent last vacation…

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Yacht where Princess Diana spent last vacation sunk in French Riviera

Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes

Yacht that once belonged to Princess Diana sank in the Mediterranean Sea on July 29, 2023, authorities said.

Patrick Bar/AP

Diana, Princess of Wales, right, and her companion Dodi Fayed, walk on a pontoon in the French Riviera resort of St. Tropez, Aug. 22, 1997.

Cujo, which now rests about 2500 meters beneath the surface, sunk about 18 nautical miles off the coast Saturday due to “a significant water leak,” an officer told The Independent.

The leak followed the vessel’s collision that day with an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, The Independent reports.

“The skipper of the Cujo issued a Mayday,” said the officer, noting the leak was found after those aboard, including the ship’s owner, were rescued and deemed safe.

The leak was found “at the level of the starboard front hull,” said the officer. “Her owner had activated the pumps and kept the engines running, but this didn’t stop the boat sinking.”

Built in 1972, Al-Fayed took ownership of the vessel after it was sold to his cousin, arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, according to the outlet. Though restored prior to the sinking, the ship was in storage for years following its 1999 decommission, and could often be found off Saint-Tropez, The Independent reports.

In 1997, the yacht was a media fixture thanks to its proximity to the people’s princess — who could also be found that summer on the Sokar yacht owned at the time by Al-Fayed’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed. Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed died in a late August collision in Paris .

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Princess Diana's Love Boat: Why the sinking and loss of super-yacht Cujo really matters

The sinking of Cujo may not have dominated headlines, but the loss of this powerful super-yacht to the Mediterranean depths is a surprisingly emotional reminder of the story and loss of Diana, Princess of Wales

In late July 2023, as news reports emerged of the sinking of a super-yacht called Cujo in the Mediterranean sea , it would have been rather tempting for those who didn’t own such a luxurious, ocean-going vessel to simply sigh and move on without a second thought. Yet, for those who lived through the mid-1990s and who can therefore also recall what the media were particularly fascinated with at that time, images of this impressive craft sinking may have pricked their eyes with tears. And, we believe, for good reason. Distress calls from the vessel were first picked up by the Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes at 12.30pm on July 29, 2023. Conditions were glorious, bright skies illuminated the French Riviera. It was a good day for an excursion, unless you happened to hit an unidentified object as you sped away from the shore of Beaulieu-sur Mer. This is exactly what happened to Cujo. The impact caused notable damage to the starboard hull and water quickly submerged the engine room. There was no hope of salvation. The abyss slowly opened to take the super yacht down into the darkness. As Cujo’s seven passengers relocated onto a safety raft alongside, emergency responders were able to retrieve only a handful of items from the troubled yacht as her cabins had been swiftly overwhelmed. Cujo’s owner had activated the pumps, but – as Thomas Andrews of Harland & Wolff would’ve told you – "the pumps buy you time, but minutes only." For all of her impressive performance capacity, as well as a particularly intriguing history, Cujo slipped under the waves in what should’ve instead been a relaxed afternoon on the open sea. Gradually descending into the darkness, the echoes of modern history dissolved across the water's surface. As she sank, a physical reminder of a whirlwind romance and the media frenzy that it had kick-started back in 1997 came to rest. Out of reach, some 2,500 metres down. For anyone who can appreciate a refined mode of transport, the ability to cruise at will or public history, this was more than just the loss of an affluent individual’s yacht. The sinking of Cujo was the loss of some of history itself.

Cujo: An unstoppable force built to impress

Across her full lifespan, super yacht Cujo was never a wallflower. She was built to wow, go fast and enjoy life. Originally constructed in 1972 in the renowned Italian Baglietto shipyard , Cujo was built in line with some particularly demanding customer specifications. The wish list came from businessman John von Neumann, who was largely responsible for introducing America to the pleasures of Porsche. John commissioned a vessel that boasted premium luxury and a nostalgic maritime feel. Not to mention a Porsche-like turn of speed. That might sound like a tall ask but, thankfully, John had asked the Italians to create this highly-anticipated vessel. Being the land of Ferrari, Gucci and the Corleones , one can argue that Italy was more than capable of handling the request. John soon owned the fastest motor yacht in the world. The resulting craft was simply known as JvNS, but what a remarkable and innovative outcome she was. Measuring in at 80 feet with a raised amidship helm and decadent social area upon the foredeck – complete with two sun-beds up by the bow – a mere glance suggested she existed only for a good time to be had by anyone on board. Capable of delighting passengers with her luxury fittings while simultaneously proving unsettling to anyone nearby who was up to no good – thanks to her military-style paint and exterior – JvNS was a contradictory blend in persona. Whoever had the joy of testing her performance would first be greeted by an old-fashioned wheel and then extraordinary power surging from two 54-litre V-18 turbo diesel engines; delivering a thrilling 2,700 hp and top speed of 42 knots. When JvNS was around, you didn’t just listen out for engines thundering their way across a stretch of water, but for an amazing turbo whistle too.

JvNS had a magnetic pull wherever she happened to go. It was a refined swagger that attracted celebrities with ease. Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis, Brooke Shields, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder and Tony Curtis are just a few of the legendary names who’ve been made welcome. Regularly docked outside the Café de Paris in the world famous port of St Tropez, it’s no wonder that JvNS became a celebrity HQ in her own right. She was unparalleled in every way. In 2020, after a refit and performance upgrade to 3,300 hp, it was no surprise the JvNS – having affectionally gained the name Cujo from a former owner – starred in a short movie entitled The Portofino Affair .

Produced by yet another one of her owners – British car collector, buyer, seller and restorer Simon Kidston – we dare you not to be sucked into Cujo’s allure.

Her name translates as ‘unstoppable force’ in Indian, and this footage demonstrates how Cujo picked up the name for which she is best known. We also bet that, after the showing of this mere five-minute movie, you will likely have failed on that dare.

We also bet that you will be impressed by the majestic power of Cujo as she stars alongside a 1970s Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Ghibli Spyder in what had us reminiscing over the opening scenes of The Persuaders .

Either way, it is clear to see how Cujo gained a following. And this was the case before the mid-1990s, when she was about to navigate into noteworthy cultural history too.

The world’s most influential woman steps aboard

Super yacht Cujo was more than used to hosting her fair share of big names but someone was about to step aboard who would outshine all those before her. In turn, this would push the impressive vessel into the eye of a world headline storm. For her esteemed guest and the ship, the fateful summer of 1997 was about to unravel. Cujo had moved on from her initial owner von Neumann to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, before then being acquired by Khashoggi’s cousin, multi-millionaire and film producer Dodi Al Fayed. As Cujo started afresh with Dodi – son of Egyptian businessman Mohammed Al Fayed – the yacht benefitted from a £1 million refit and she shone brighter than ever before. Meanwhile, over in the UK, the British public were adjusting to the sad but inevitable news that, within their monarchy, Prince Charles and Diana, The Princess of Wales had divorced in August 1996. The proceedings marked the conclusion of the most observed and scrutinised Royal marriage in existence. Many Brits were disheartened to see what had seemed – back in the early 1980s – such a promising romance as it served to secure the line of British Royal succession. However, as the divorce went through and Diana lost the Her Royal Highness (HRH) status, many were fully supportive of the former princess. Much of the public’s empathy stemmed from how the marriage had made Diana particularly unhappy as she’d watched an affair smoulder between prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles over many years.

Many had already suspected the royal couple would never work out. The clues had been there from the beginning. In February 1981, as the couple announced their engagement – with Lady Diana Spencer at the tender age of 19 – Prince Charles spectacularly put his foot in it during the official engagement interview.

When asked if they were in love, a shy but glowing Lady Diana replied: “Of course.” Meanwhile Prince Charles uttered the infamous, blundering words of “Whatever ‘in love’ is.” Diana’s subsequent look down towards the floor says it all. It was crushing. Now, 15 years later and the divorce complete, Diana was finally devoid of Royal obligation and still a beautiful woman. Thanks to her humanitarian efforts, she was also regarded as the world’s most influential too. In the July 1997 issue of Vanity Fair , Diana had been photographed by Mario Testino and her beauty was more evident than ever. Diana was 36 and single, while the world awaited what she would do next. Sitting like a cocked gun were the press. With the slightest hint of romance in Diana’s life, they were ready to pounce. The resultant media hounding had sent her first post-divorce prospect – cardiologist Hasnat Khan – scurrying and Diana had faced heartbreak once more. She was in need of an escape from home turf and distraction. Cue the Al Fayed family, who had a long-term and close-knit relationship with the Royals. Mohammed Al Fayed invited Diana to join them at one of his residences – the Villa Windsor, former home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris – and Diana keenly accepted. With her sons on holiday with their father at Balmoral and she at a loss, the invitation proved an attractive, well-timed idea to Lady Diana. Soon after, Diana was spotted on Mediterranean waters, out yachting with Dodi Al Fayed. Diana and Dodi had first met in 1986, when Fayed played against Diana’s then-husband Princes Charles at a polo match. Afterwards, they bumped into one another every once and a while at various social events. Dodi enjoyed a playboy lifestyle, Diana persevered with her testing marriage.

Cujo was one of two yachts the pair now utilised, the other being the Jonikal which was owned by Mohammed Al Fayed. The ever-present press pestered both yachts with smaller vessels of their own, photographers always at the ready. Within days, rumours began to spring that Dodi was Diana’s new lover. It was an intriguing prospect. As many had watched Diana suffer the long-term heartache, embarrassment and disappointment of an unsuccessful marriage with Prince Charles, they had also wished that, one day, she would find meaningful love and happiness elsewhere. Eventually, the press were in luck – the famous photograph, nicknamed ‘The Kiss’ circulated, establishing what everyone had suspected. It was officia: Dodi and Diana were in a relationship. With the revelation, many days out upon Cujo and the Jonikal followed. On both crafts, Diana looked healthy, happy and care-free. The world watched fascinated as Diana re-found herself, far from Charles and all the resulting mess that had occupied most of her young adulthood. Pictures of Diana relaxing in swimwear , conversing with Dodi and enjoying jet-ski rides upon the glittering waters, all suggested she’d finally accepted that her marriage to Prince Charles and the Royal life she had known had ceased. Of everyone observing, it was the Brits who were most happy to see Diana finally having some fun while any woman who knew the heartache of a failed relationship likely cheered her on with the mantra of: You show him girl. Throughout the summer of 1997, the romance between Diana and Dodi enthralled the world. Despite Diana’s evolving status in societal circles, she was at the height of her power.

A poignant loss as contemporary history slips away

As the blissful, heady cruise came to a close, Diana and Dodi prepared to return to England. Because Dodi had some business to take care of on behalf of his father in Paris, the couple opted to fly to the French capital on route. They planned to have dinner in central Paris before travelling to the Ritz hotel, owned by Mohammed. However, the local paparazzi had heard they were in town and their first attempt at dining had been aborted. Unimpressed, the couple tried again at the Ritz. As Diana and Dodi made their way through the hotel’s rotating doors, an intimidating mass of vehicles, photographers and noise amassed outside the glamourous venue. Diana and Dodi ate and sheltered within the hotel. The nearby ruckus continued and grew. Diana in particular was used to being hounded by the press but circumstances that evening were getting out of hand. It was becoming an intimidating situation. CCTV footage from within the Ritz shows the couple feeling increasingly concerned and harassed as the night wears on. Although safe within the confines of the hotel, they appear understandably keen to leave. What was to follow next was one of the most tragic sequences in contemporary history. Aiming to fool the skirmish outside, a decoy vehicle left at the front of the Ritz in the hope of luring most of the mob away. In part, the distraction worked but a few, less naïve journalists, hung back.

At the rear of the hotel, Diana and Dodi exited via the back door, climbing into another car. The hope was to leave unnoticed and, in doing so, evade the press. The plan did not work.

Much like the hotel, their black Mercedes quickly found itself also harassed by the media, many of whom followed on motorcycles. What resulted was a short but desperate chase that was to culminate with a horrific conclusion. The car that had tried to whisk Diana and Dodi to safety instead crashed at high speed within the Pont de l’Alma tunnel . Dodi and driver Henri Paul died at the scene, while bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones and Lady Diana were both seriously injured. Diana was taken to La Pitié Salpêtrière hospital but, at around 4am, passed away from injuries sustained in the crash. As the news filtered out, the world was in shock. No-one was quite able to take in what had happened. One of the world’s most adored women had been lost in a catastrophic accident after a new start had just begun to look tangible. Momentous public grief ensued, it all seemed unbelievably unfair. Happiness had been within reach for Diana and then cruelly, it was snatched away. In today’s Britain, Prince Charles is now King with his mistress Camilla having become Queen Consort. Diana’s sons, who were so deeply affected by her death, are now both grown and married with children of their own.

But, in the background, the tragedy of that night and what could have been lingers on. The British public haven’t forgotten.

It is these difficult memories that have yet again been evoked as images of the sinking Cujo were released. While the public may no longer have Lady Diana, there remain physical elements of her legacy which exist beyond the tragic incident of August 31, 1997. It is possible to visit Althorp House – the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire – and, from time-to-time, personal correspondence and artefacts that once belonged to Diana surface in a museum exhibition or come to auction. However, the super yacht Cujo was different in many regards to many other connections to Lady Diana’s life. Cujo was a craft that Lady Diana would likely have appreciated for it was not unknown for the Princess to drive and enjoy her Jaguar XJS , a luxurious and capable car, alongside various sports cars and Range Rovers. Diana could therefore have understood the luxurious appeal and impressive performance of Cujo. The yacht was more than just a vessel, it became a comfort.

Furthermore, in the summer of 1997, Cujo was a means of escape from many of Diana’s troubles which had made her so unhappy for so long. Between them, both Cujo and the Jonikal were able to offer welcome relief. The crafts ensured Diana had fun. If you consider the vast pressure and strain endured by Lady Diana up to that point, the fact that she was seen relaxed and smiling on board, was in itself a remarkable feat. They gave hope that happiness was possible. We like to maintain connections to our past, whether it be physical items, recordings or photographs. They help us to understand our cultural heritage and others around us. Cujo, while not part of a museum collection and able to be easily accessed, was a brief yet significant component of the latter stages of Lady Diana’s life and her search for what lay beyond the role that had been retracted by the British Monarchy after her divorce from Prince Charles. For many of us, that summer of 1997 and the photographs of Diana and Dodi on board Cujo and the Jonikal, represent a time when Diana was finally happy. We eagerly wanted her to be so and even just knowing that those vessels were afloat and doing what they’ve always done best was somehow a comfort after we had lost Diana herself. To see Cujo floundering, was to have the thought of – ‘But that was where Diana was so happy’ – come to mind.

Losing Cujo is therefore poignant when it comes to our cultural history and heritage. Cujo – like Diana, had soul and wowed wherever she went – and will be missed.

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The rumour mill: is norway banning cruise ships after 2025, sir richard branson marries 3 couples onboard virgin voyages, a shared humanity: sos for ss united states, ss united states set to become artificial reef, the rumour mill: what’s going on with ambassador and edinburgh, virgin voyages returns to portsmouth with its third ship, resilient lady, celestyal cruises rewards team gb olympic medallists with complimentary cruises, riviera travel boosts 2026 tall-ship programme, interview: dr damon stanwell-smith on viking's genomics at sea programme, follow us on socials, about gillian carmoodie.

Gillian has been a part of the heritage world for longer than she would care to admit. From piloting pre-war racers across Montlhéry and traversing the Cumbrian mountains with an Edwardian automobile, to flying a WWI Tiger Moth and obsessing over all things shipping, Gillian lives for history. When not buried in a book or lost to the archives, you'll usually find her under the bonnet of her classic Rover or exploring the old shipyards of the North East. When partaking in work for RNLI, Land Rover or RRM, Gillian mostly runs on high-octane Earl Grey.

Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed's iconic love boat is now at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea

• The yacht on which Princess Diana holidayed with Dodi Fayed is now at the bottom of the sea, per The Times .
• The boat, named Cujo, sank after it collided with an unidentified object off the French Riviera.
• Cujo has changed hands multiple times in recent years and was most recently owned by a wealthy Italian family.

The yacht where Princess Diana spent part of her last summer with Dodi Fayed has sunk to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

The boat, named Cujo, sank on July 29 after colliding with an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, The Times reported.

The Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes uploaded a statement onto their Facebook page confirming that they responded to a distress call from a boat that was in trouble about 35 kilometers, or 22 miles, off the coast.

By the time the coast guards arrived at the scene, the yacht was already partially submerged.

"The distressed yacht is already starting to sink from the front and the 7 shipwrecked are just next to it in a life raft," the statement said. "The cabins of the yacht are already flooded, only a few suitcases located in the kitchen and on the deck can be retrieved."

The Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes added that they would remain in the area to monitor pollution because the yacht sank with almost 7,000 liters of diesel in its tanks.

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When Insider reached out to the Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes for direct confirmation of the boat's identity, the organization told Insider "to search via Google."

Cujo made international headlines in 1997 when Princess Diana was photographed onboard with its then-owner Fayed, per Robb Report .

That summer, Princess Diana was also photographed onboard another yacht owned by Fayed's father, the Jonikal — which was subsequently renamed Sokar, per The Times.

Mere weeks later, the two of them died in a car crash in Paris while trying to escape the paparazzi.

Following their deaths, Cujo fell into disrepair and was decommissioned in 1999, per Robb Report. After a few years in storage, Fayed's cousin, Moody Al-Fayed, spent over $1 million restoring the boat before he sold it to a British car collector Simon Kidston for €160,000, or $175,400.

Kidston subsequently sold the boat to its current owner in 2021, he told Robb Report.

"A young member of a prominent Italian business family—he's 30 years old—had seen Cujoin Lavagna, fallen in love with her and asked if she was for sale," Kidston told Robb Report.

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Princess Diana’s Yacht Saga: Revisiting the Boats She Vacationed on With Dodi Fayed

In the summer of 1997, Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana’s yacht adventures were the infatuation of the tabloids, paparazzi, and public like no other. The pair were captured sailing around the Mediterranean in July, first with both of their families, then again, just them, at the end of the month, spurring nonstop controversy and speculation. Weeks later the couple was killed in a tragic car accident, prompting even greater interest in the brief but impactful relationship. Nearly 30 years later, understanding just what happened on the high seas remains a notable point of interest for many invested in the Royal Family.

The momentous vacation was recently recreated in season six of Netflix’s The Crown and recounted in Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare . While conversations about the trip often recount what the couple did—and what Diana wore—it’s worth revisiting the stunning vessels where all the escapades took place. Below, AD surveys the two superyachts Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed used during their prominent summer together.

Jonikal, now known as Isabell Princess of the Sea

The sensationalized couple most famously spent time on Jonikal , a 208-foot superyacht. At the time, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi’s father, owned the boat. Reportedly, he originally invited Diana to the yacht in an attempt to play matchmaker between the People’s Princess and his son.

Princess Diana sunbathes on an orange couch aboard Jonikal .

Those who watch The Crown will be unsurprised to learn that the interiors of Jonikal , which has since been renamed Isabell Princess Of The Sea by a new owner, are just as lavish as those depicted in the look-alike on the show. Inside, the ship boasts nine staterooms, a formal dining room, bar, office space, swim platform, sun deck, and Jacuzzi. Designed by navel architect Vincenzo Ruggiero in the 1980s, coffered ceilings and dark wood paneling draw inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 1900s.

Princess Diana and Prince Harry on a jet ski near St. Tropez

In his memoir, Prince Harry remembers his experience on the yacht as idyllic. “There was much laughter, horseplay, the norm whenever Mummy and Willy and I were together, though even more so on that holiday,” he writes. “Everything about that trip to St. Tropez was heaven. The weather was sublime, the food was tasty, Mummy was smiling.”

After the original trip with her children, the princess returned to the boat a second time with just the younger Fayed. According to Vanity Fair , Fayed catered to all of Di’s preferences, even letting her pick the music that played. Reportedly, she opted for tunes by George Michael, Frank Sinatra, and the English Patient soundtrack.

A now famous image of Princess Diana on Jonikal ’s passarelle

Nearby, a brigade of press boats captured a number of photos of Princess Diana on the yacht, formally immortalizing the vessel. Most famously, Princess Diana was captured sitting alone on the vessel’s passerelle in a now iconic image. According to Boat International , the yacht most recently sold in 2023.

As Robb Report describes it, Cujo, a 65-foot military-style superyacht was once the most famous in the world thanks to her high-profile passengers. In 1997, Fayed reportedly used this smaller vessel to woo the princess.

Princess Diana and Prince William on Dodi Fayed’s yacht

The impressive yacht was originally launched in 1972, commissioned by its first owner John von Neumann. According to Robb Report, Von Neumann hired Italian shipyard Baglietto to build him a boat that was “faster than any other motoryacht on the water.” During its maiden voyage, Cujo had largely achieved this goal thanks to its twin 54-liter V-18 turbo diesel engines, which provided 2,700 horsepower and allowed it to easily hit 46 miles per hour. Von Neumann eventually sold the boat to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, who later passed the boat to Dodi Fayed, his nephew.

Cujo was already halfway underwater when rescuers arrived.

The boat sank quickly after the distress call was made.

However, the boat’s story came to a dramatic end last summer, when it sunk off the coast of France, as reported by The Independent . According to a Facebook post from the Gendarmerie des Alpes-Maritimes, a division of the French military, passengers issued a distress call at around 12:30 local time on July 29, 2023. A little under an hour later, a rescue boat arrived, finding the vessel’s bow already partially submerged. “The cabins of the yacht were already flooded, and only a few suitcases located in the kitchen and on the deck could be retrieved by the gendarmes,” reads the statement. The seven passengers who were on board had already evacuated and were safely on a nearby lifeboat. Rescuers and passengers then quickly left the area, as the boat sank 2,500 feet to the ocean’s floor. The cause of the accident was not shared; however, according to Boat International , sources claimed that the ship hit an unknown object floating near the center of the hull.

At one point, the vessel was among the fastest in the world.

Though Princess Diana was among the most notable guests onboard, other high-profile passengers hosted by Fayed included Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis, Bruce Willis, and Brooke Shields. Following the passing of Di and Fayed, Cujo fell into disrepair and decommissioned in 1999. After many years in storage, Fayed’s cousin Moody Al-Fayed purchased the vessel and brought it back to life. He later sold the boat to Simon Kidston, a British car collector and restorer and the last-reported owner of the vessel.

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Incredible 80ft superyacht Cujo used by Princess Diana in her final summer with Dodi Fayed sinks after crash in Med

• Juliana Cruz Lima
• Published : 5:37 ET, Aug 3 2023
• Updated : 8:37 ET, Aug 3 2023

THE yacht used by Princess Diana during her last summer has sunk in the Mediterranean.

Cujo, which once belonged to Dodi Al-Fayed, was reportedly holed after hitting an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera.

All seven passengers were rescued uninjured and safely evacuated on a life raft.

But the 80ft boat ended up at a depth of at least 2,430 metres despite salvage attempts.

Cujo's latest owner was at the helm when the accident happened on July 29.

The Italian , who owns a home in the French Riviera, tried and failed to pump out the water, local media reports.

A second attempt was made by a tugboat dispatched to the scene, to no avail.

Emergency services were called at around 12.30pm, and 45 minutes later, a rescue boat arrived at the scene to find the yacht's bow partially submerged with some cabins already flooded.

The superyacht hit the headlines in the summer of 1997, when the Princess of Wales was photographed aboard with Al-Fayed.

Weeks later, on August 31, the pair died in a crash in Paris when their car hit a pillar in the Alma tunnel while fleeing paparazzi.

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After their death, Cujo fell into disrepair before it was restored by a member of the late owner’s family at a cost of €800,000 (£689,000).

The motor yacht had been moored in the port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer but was no longer in pristine condition.

“It had regular maintenance problems,” local paper Nice Matin reported.

Le Figaro also reported it had had 7,000 litres of fuel on board, but added that there was little risk of significant pollution.

In 2020, the superyacht was auctioned and bought by a wealthy Italian family for £171,000.

Cujo was built in Italy in 1972 for John von Neumann, a businessman who had made a fortune selling Porsche and Volkswagen cars in the US .

Von Neumann told Italy’s Baglietto yard that he wanted the world’s fastest yacht, which was achieved with two diesel turbo engines delivering a top speed of 40 knots.

The businessman kept it for a few years before selling it to the son of Adnan Khashoggi, the arms dealer said in the 1980s to be the world’s richest man. He in turn sold it to Al-Fayed, his cousin.

In the 1990s, Cujo became a star-studded yacht, as Al-Fayed invited the likes of Brooke Shields, Clint Eastwood , Tony Curtis and Bruce Willis on board.

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Sunken Russian warship Moskva: What do we know?

Russia's flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, the Moskva, has sunk after being "seriously damaged".

That is as far as the warring sides may agree on - not what caused the sinking.

The Russian defence ministry said ammunition onboard exploded in an unexplained fire and the ship tipped over while being towed back to port.

Ukraine claims it struck the vessel with its Neptune missiles. Unnamed US officials have told US media they believe the Ukrainian version.

The 510-crew warship had led Russia's naval assault on Ukraine, which made it an important symbolic and military target.

Earlier in the conflict the Moskva gained notoriety after calling on Ukrainian border troops defending Snake Island in the Black Sea to surrender - to which they memorably radioed a message of refusal which loosely translates as "go to hell" .

Unexplained fire or a missile attack?

Prior to the sinking, Russia's defence ministry issued a statement saying "the vessel is seriously damaged. The entire crew have been evacuated".

Naval officials said they were towing the warship back to port.

But a later statement the same day announced that on its journey back to port the ship "lost its balance".

"Given the choppy seas, the vessel sank," it said.

Moscow again blamed the blast on an unexplained fire, making no mention of any missile strike.

But Ukraine says it is responsible for an attack on the cruiser, which it claims it targeted with recently-introduced Ukrainian-made missiles.

In a Facebook post before the ship sank, Ukrainian officials said Russian rescue efforts were being hampered by ammunition exploding on board and bad weather.

On Friday, US officials said two Ukrainian Neptune missiles had struck the vessel, killing an unknown number of sailors.

The BBC has not been able to verify the claims.

Billowing black smoke

Dramatic pictures and a credible video appearing to show the Russian warship listing heavily and billowing smoke have since appeared.

Military experts told the BBC the footage most likely showed the Moskva cruiser and was probably recorded on 14 April.

The damage that can be seen in the footage is consistent with the type that a Neptune-style missile attack would inflict , they agreed.

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who previously commanded a Royal Navy destroyer, said that after looking at the image he was left in "no doubt it's been hit by one or two missiles".

But other experts said the footage didn't provide enough proof to definitively rule out another explanation not involving a missile strike.

Reported casualties

Russia has not admitted any casualties. On Saturday the Russian defence ministry published footage showing what it described as the crew of the Moskva, on parade in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian navy said the officers and crew would "continue their service".

The video showing around 100 sailors is the only evidence that's been offered of any survivors from the 510-crew warship.

The history of the Moskva cruiser

Originally built in Ukraine in the Soviet-era, the vessel entered service in the early 1980s according to Russian media.

The missile cruiser was previously deployed by Moscow in the Syria conflict where it supplied Russian forces in the country with naval protection.

It carried over a dozen Vulkan anti-ship missiles and an array of anti-submarine and mine-torpedo weapons, the reports said.

The Moskva is the second major Russian ship known to have been destroyed since the invasion began.

What defences did the Moskva have?

The Slava-class cruiser was the third largest vessel in Russia's active fleet and one of its most heavily defended assets, naval expert Jonathan Bentham from the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the BBC.

The cruiser was equipped with a triple-tiered air defence system that if operating properly should have made it very hard to hit.

In addition to medium- and short-range defences, it could engage six short-range close-in weapon systems (CIWS) as a last resort.

"The CIWS system can fire 5,000 rounds in a minute, essentially creating a wall of flak around the cruiser, its last line of defence," Mr Bentham said.

If the strike is proven to have come from a missile it "raises questions over the capabilities of the modernisation of the Russian surface fleet: whether it had enough ammunition, whether it had engineering issues".

Neptune missiles

Kyiv military officials say they struck the Moskva with a Ukrainian-made Neptune missile.

The cruise missile system was designed by Ukrainian military engineers in response to the growing naval threat posed by Russia in the Black Sea, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

According to the Kyiv Post , the Ukrainian navy only received its first delivery of the 300km-range (186 miles) Neptune missiles in March last year.

Since the invasion began Ukraine has received an influx of military aid from Western allies, including £100m worth of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles that the UK announced it would be sending last week .

The Russian military has been dominant in the Black Sea since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and has used its presence there to launch and supply the invasion.

Its Black Sea fleet has supported the war with the capacity to launch cruise missiles anywhere in Ukraine, and has been important in supporting Russian attempts to seize Mariupol.

Snake Island

"The Moskva had been a thorn in the side of the Ukrainians since the beginning of this conflict," Michael Petersen, of the Russia Maritime Studies Institute, told the BBC.

In the early days of Russia's invasion, the Moskva made global headlines after it ordered a group of Ukrainian soldiers on an outpost in the Black Sea to surrender.

When the troops defiantly refused in a radio message, it was initially believed that the border troops had been killed. However, in fact they had been taken captive.

The soldiers were eventually released as part of a prisoner swap with Russia in late March and their commander was honoured with a medal by the Ukrainian military.

The tale of their bravery became such a boost to Ukraine's morale that that the country's postal service commemorated their encounter on Snake Island with a special illustrated stamp.

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