A luxury yacht worth over €8 million has sunk near Porto Cervo, Sardinia, just four days after it was handed over to its new owner. There were 14 people on board, who were rescued with no reports of injuries.
The 30-meter-long yacht, “Angiola II”, experienced problems on the evening of August 11, while sailing near Capo Ferro, in the Costa Smeralda area.
According to preliminary data, a defect in the engine room caused a small fire. The flames were brought under control, but then water began to enter the interior of the yacht.
The “Angiola II” gradually lost stability, partially sank and then capsized on its side. The yacht ended up at the bottom of the sea, at a depth of about seven meters.
There were 14 people on board. Twelve of them were transferred to another vessel nearby. The owner, an Italian businessman, and a friend stayed on the yacht until rescue teams arrived.
The exact causes of the incident are still under investigation.
The owner has contacted a specialized company to remove the “Angiola II” from the sea. A floating crane with a capacity of about 200 tons is expected to be used for the operation.
The plan calls for raising the yacht from the seabed and transporting it to land, where it will undergo repairs. The goal is to restore it to seaworthy condition.
“Angiola II” was built and launched in 2020. The yacht had had several owners before being purchased by the last owner.
The fact that it sank just four days after being delivered to its new owner has made the incident receive special attention.