50-meter superyacht has been stuck on a reef since 2015 and locals are doing everything they can to salvage it

This superyacht is worth millions but has been stuck on a reef for nearly 10 years.

Blue Gold was caught in Cyclone Pam in 2015 and washed up on the coast of the South Pacific Ocean nation of Vanuatu.

Locals are now attempting to salvage the ship, using just their hands and a stainless steel bucket.

It’s a tough job, to say the least.

In its prime, Blue Gold was a stylish 164-foot luxury yacht, the only sail superyacht Benetti Yachts made.

It was no stranger to rough winds, having previously survived two hurricanes, but was no match for the treacherous Cyclone Pam.

When the storm hit in March 2015, Blue Gold was attempting to wait out the winds when she was struck by another boat, snapping her anchor chain.

It then took just three giant waves to wash the boat and its crew of five onto the reef, where the yacht has remained for the past nine years.

While there have been several rescue attempts, none have managed to significantly shift the 368-ton ship from its position.

But one man who claims to be its new owner is determined to get her back on the ocean and has employed workers from the tiny local village to assist him.

Saving a superyacht from becoming a shipwreck

Blue Gold is so far up on the reef that the entire hull on the port side of the ship sits out of the water.

The amount of power needed to shift her steel hull would be nearly impossible to generate in this remote seaside village.

While the paint is worn, the sails are destroyed, and the yacht is covered in barnacles, the hull is still intact.

Despite all her flaws, a local man who reportedly owns her feels positive about her chances of revival.

He is desperate to get her sailing again, unlike the group of friends who chose to convert a shipwreck into a cozy gaming lounge.

He’s hired a team to dig a channel under the boat to free it, using rudimentary digging tools like a stainless steel bucket and a simple snorkel.

The superyacht has already moved back nearly 30 feet since January.

While digging the channel the crew are also placing coconut logs underneath in an attempt to shift her upwards.

The owner reckons he’ll need to spend around $1 million on the rescue mission.

Potentially worth it, given Blue Gold’s prior valuation of $5 million.