A £6.8 million superyacht sank off the coast of Sardinia just four days after being delivered to its new owner, an unnamed Italian businessman. The 30-metre vessel, named Angiola II, capsized between L'isola dei Cappuccini and Capo Ferro in Costa Smeralda after a fire broke out onboard on Tuesday evening. All 14 people on board—the owner and 13 guests—were safely evacuated onto other boats, according to Corriere della Sera.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
The yacht had been handed over to its owner only four days before the incident. The owner was hosting 13 other people on the vessel when the fire started. Footage of the incident showed the superyacht sinking and banking to one side in the Mediterranean Sea. The cause of the sinking is currently under investigation, with authorities reporting no fuel leak discovered.
Authorities have deployed a 200-tonne specialist tugboat to recover the wreckage. Containment barriers have been placed around the sunken vessel to monitor any potential environmental impact.
Vessel Background and Specifications
The Angiola, previously known as Limbo and Arsana, is one of six yachts under the Amer F100 line, built by Permare in 2020. It is propelled by four Volvo Penta diesel engines and has a top speed of 28 knots (approximately 32 miles per hour). The yacht has an official capacity of ten people across five cabin rooms and had been extensively renovated before being handed to its latest owner.
The vessel has changed hands several times since it first set sail. Amer Yachts, the manufacturer, stated that the boat had been correctly maintained while under warranty.
Industry Reaction and Context
Sardinia is one of Europe's top destinations for superyachts, but their presence has drawn complaints from locals over private beach use and overcrowding of the coast. Amer Yachts CEO Barbara Amerio expressed relief that all passengers and crew were safe, saying: 'Like everyone else, we are relieved that passengers and crew are safe – and, like everyone else, we are awaiting official findings.' She added: 'It is painful to see a boat sink to which we devoted a year and a half of work, cared for like all our boats, down to the smallest details.'
The investigation into the cause of the sinking is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the fire that broke out onboard. The recovery operation using the 200-tonne tugboat is expected to continue as authorities work to remove the wreckage from the sea.
