A £3.8million superyacht has sunk off the coast of Sardinia just four days after it was delivered to its new owner following an extensive refurbishment.The 98ft Angiola II capsized on Tuesday evening in the waters off Porto Cervo, Italy, between Cappuccini Island and Capo Ferro. Video footage captured the dramatic moment the luxury yacht tipped onto its side before gradually disappearing beneath the Mediterranean.According to the Daily Mail, the yacht had only been handed over to its Italian owner four days before the sinking.Fourteen people were aboard when the vessel began taking on water. Twelve were rescued by another boat sailing nearby, while the owner and a friend reportedly remained aboard until a patrol vessel arrived and transported them to Poltu Quatu.No injuries were reported.
Angiola II sinks after apparent engine failure
The yacht is believed to have lost buoyancy after an engine failure reportedly triggered a fire around the seals, allowing water to enter the vessel.The exact cause, however, has not been officially established.The La Maddalena Coast Guard reportedly spent almost three hours attempting to bring the situation under control before allowing the yacht to sink in a controlled manner.Angiola II has since been resting on the seabed at a depth of approximately 7 metres (23ft).The vessel is expected to remain underwater until specialist equipment can be brought in to recover it.
Luxury yacht was recently refurbished
Angiola II was launched by Italian shipbuilder Permare in July 2020 under its Amer Yachts brand. It was the sixth hull in the Amer F100 series.The yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests in five cabins and was reportedly refurbished before being delivered to its latest owner.Agenzia Marittima De Felice announced the sale in July, describing the buyer as a long-standing client of the brokerage.While the yacht has been reported as costing around £3.8million, Italian media outlets have estimated its value at more than €8million, or approximately £6.8million.
200-ton pontoon could be used to recover yacht
A pontoon weighing approximately 200 tons is reportedly expected to be used to lift the sunken yacht from the seabed.La Maddalena Port Authority is also taking measures to prevent possible environmental damage while the vessel remains underwater.Authorities will need to carefully manage the recovery operation given the yacht’s size, location and the potential for fuel or other materials to leak into the surrounding waters.
Another luxury yacht sank after capsizing
The Angiola II incident follows another luxury yacht sinking in Turkey last September.The £700,000 ($940,000) Dolce Vento overturned around 200 metres offshore in the Eregli district of Zonguldak.Footage showed the vessel rapidly tipping onto its side as those on board attempted to escape. A man believed to be the owner was seen standing on the yacht before jumping into the sea and swimming towards shore.The captain and two crew members also reportedly jumped overboard.No injuries were reported.
Experts point to stability as a possible factor
Dolce Vento was reportedly between 24 and 30 metres long and had been completed at the Med Yilmaz Shipyard around five months before being delivered to its owner in Istanbul.Coast Guard and port authorities established a security perimeter while recovery teams were sent to the scene.Shipyard officials said technical inspections would be carried out to determine the cause of the sinking.Maritime experts have previously identified stability problems, including errors in metacentric height calculations, as factors that can contribute to a vessel losing stability and capsizing.The circumstances surrounding the Angiola II sinking remain under investigation, while authorities prepare for the challenging task of recovering the yacht from the Mediterranean seabed.
