Luxury Superyacht Sinks Days After Delivery

A nearly 30-meter (98-foot) superyacht, valued at approximately £6.8 million (€8 million), sank in the Mediterranean Sea just four days after its delivery to its new owner. The vessel, named Angiola II, capsized Tuesday evening off Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Italy, between Cappuccini Island and Capo Ferro.

Footage from the incident shows the luxury yacht tipping onto its side and submerging underwater as onlookers on nearby boats observe. The La Maddalena Coast Guard responded to the incident and managed to recover the motor yacht after a nearly three-hour operation. The Angiola II now rests on the seabed at a depth of seven meters (23 feet).

While the exact cause of the sinking is still under official investigation, initial reports suggest that an engine failure led to a fire in the seals, causing a loss of buoyancy and allowing water to flood the vessel. The owner of the yacht, whose identity has not been released, was among the 14 individuals on board at the time of the sinking. Twelve people were rescued by a passing vessel, while the owner and a friend were transported to Poltu Quatu by a patrol boat.

No injuries were reported among those on board. Ship brokerage Agenzia Marittima De Felice, which announced the yacht's sale in July, described the buyer as a long-standing client. The Angiola II was launched in July 2020 by Italian shipyard Permare under the Amer Yachts brand and was the sixth hull in their Amer F100 series. The Amer F100 model typically accommodates up to 10 guests in five cabins.

Preparations are underway to remove the wreck, with a 200-ton pontoon expected to be used for the operation. The La Maddalena Port Authority is also reportedly implementing measures to prevent potential environmental damage.

This incident follows a similar event in September of the previous year, when a £700,000 luxury yacht, the Dolce Vento, capsized and sank off the coast of Zonguldak in northern Turkey. The Dolce Vento, between 24 and 30 meters long, had been delivered to its owner approximately five months prior to its sinking. Coast Guard and rescue teams secured the area, and an investigation into the cause of that sinking was initiated by shipyard officials. Experts have previously indicated that issues with stability calculations can be a significant factor in vessels capsizing or sinking.