Newly delivered 30-meter yacht sinks in Porto Cervo, all 14 aboard safe

The sinking

The yacht Angiola II, an Amer F100 measuring 30 meters and valued at over eight million euros, sank on the evening of Tuesday, 11 August, in the waters of Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda. The luxury vessel had been delivered to its owner, an Italian entrepreneur, just four days before the incident, and had been launched only days earlier, ready to navigate the waters of the Costa Smeralda. According to initial reconstructions, an engine malfunction caused a fire to break out on board, which subsequently led to the sinking. The vessel was navigating the crystalline waters of the Gallura region when the engine suddenly suffered a breakdown.

At the time of the incident, 14 people were aboard, including the owner's guests and crew members. All occupants found refuge aboard other vessels that were navigating in the vicinity. Nearly all were accompanied to shore, while the owner and a friend remained at the scene to wait for the arrival of rescue services and personnel from the Capitaneria di Porto of La Maddalena, who coordinated operations to secure the vessel. None of the 14 people aboard was in life-threatening condition.

Recovery and environmental monitoring

The Angiola II now lies semi-submerged on its side at approximately seven meters depth in the waters between the Isola dei Cappuccini and Capo Ferro. Containment booms have been positioned around the wreck as a precautionary measure to prevent potential fuel spills. No fuel leaks into the sea have been reported at this stage, but the hull is being constantly monitored pending the arrival of a tugboat from a specialized company that has been commissioned to tow the hull back to shore. The area will remain under surveillance until the recovery operation is complete.

Investigation underway

Authorities are conducting assessments to establish the exact dynamics of the incident and the causes that provoked the sinking. The Capitaneria di Porto of La Maddalena continues to oversee safety operations at the site. Photos published by Superyachttimes show the vessel semi-submerged on its side in the waters off the Costa Smeralda. The vessel, an Amer F100 model, is a 30-meter yacht described in reports as a luxury craft that had been delivered to its owner only days before the accident.

Previous incidents in northern Sardinian waters

The sinking follows other recent maritime incidents in northern Sardinian waters. On 8 July, a fire broke out on a yacht navigating between the beach of Capo Ceraso and the island of Tavolara, in a stretch of sea not far from the Costa Smeralda. Three Italian recreational boaters on board managed to reach safety. On 12 June, a catamaran was destroyed by fire while stationary at anchor off the beach of Porto Pollo on the Palau coast, also in northern Sardinia. The sole person aboard, a 49-year-old man, saved himself by abandoning the vessel and swimming to shore. In both previous incidents, all those aboard managed to reach safety.