$9.1 Million Superyacht Sinks Just Four Days After Being Delivered to New Owner

PORTO CERVO, Sardinia — A luxury superyacht worth an estimated $9.1 million sank off the coast of Sardinia just four days after being delivered to its new owner, turning what should have been the beginning of a lavish new chapter into a dramatic maritime emergency.

The 98-foot Angiola II was carrying 14 people — including guests and crew — off the popular resort area of Porto Cervo on Tuesday when an engine failure reportedly sparked a fire. The vessel subsequently began taking on water before eventually capsizing and sinking.

Remarkably, everyone aboard was rescued and no injuries were reported.

Engine Failure Leads to Disaster

According to reports, the yacht experienced an engine problem that was followed by a fire. As water entered the vessel, the crew and passengers were forced to abandon the yacht.

The owner, described as an unnamed Italian businessman, and another passenger were reportedly among the last people to leave. Italian authorities helped escort them safely back to shore.

Dramatic footage showed the enormous yacht lying on its side before gradually disappearing beneath the Mediterranean.

A Luxury Yacht With a $9.1 Million Price Tag

The Angiola II is an Amer F100, built in 2020 by Italian shipbuilder Permare.

The vessel was designed for luxury cruising, with accommodation for as many as 10 guests in five cabins, along with space for a crew of five.

Powered by four engines, the yacht was capable of reaching approximately 28 knots, or more than 32 mph.

The timing of the accident made the incident particularly extraordinary: the yacht had reportedly been delivered to its new owner only four days earlier.

Yacht Secured on Seabed

After the evacuation, authorities secured the partially submerged vessel on the seabed to prevent it from drifting.

Officials also reported that there did not appear to be any fuel leakage, reducing concerns about an additional environmental hazard in the area.

Italian authorities are preparing to use a 220-ton pontoon boat as part of an operation to recover the yacht.

Investigation Underway

The Italian Coast Guard is investigating what caused the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the reported engine failure and subsequent fire.

The investigation could help determine whether the sinking resulted from a mechanical defect, fire-related damage or another technical problem.

For the yacht’s new owner, the incident represents an extraordinary stroke of bad luck: a multimillion-dollar vessel had barely begun its new life before ending up on the Mediterranean seabed.

The fact that all 14 people aboard escaped without injury, however, makes the sinking a costly maritime disaster rather than a human tragedy.