This is the terrifying moment a stunning Italian superyacht began to sink off an idyllic Greek holiday island after a crew member left a side door open.
The 150ft megayacht ‘Ethos’, which costs charterers a whopping £180,000 a week, was spotted taking on water off the coast of Kefalonia while in Paleokaravo Bay.
A diver has been called in to explore local reefs as shipwreck officials continue to monitor efforts to recover the yacht after it ran aground in Evretis Bay, where it was anchored.
But it was later revealed that the break-in occurred after one of the crew members left a side door open and did not have time to close it once the weather “changed,” according to local media. reports.
The five tourists on board have disembarked safely along with the five crew members on board, who are members of the yacht’s hotel staff, Protothema reported today.
The award-winning Maltese-flagged yacht is chartered to a maximum of 12 guests looking for a “relaxed” charter experience.
Featuring five cabins, an onboard gym, a jacuzzi on deck and jet skis, it promises guests “exceptional levels of comfort both at anchor and underway.”
Amazing scenes showed the moment the ship started taking on water in the Ionian Sea.
The crew had left a door open and did not have time to close it when the weather “changed.”
The ship was spotted off-balance in the waters around the port of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea.
Shocking images showed the boat lopsided in the blue waters around Kefalonia, a popular island in the Ionian Sea known as the setting for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
A private boat, shown in the footage, was reportedly on site as port guards monitored the situation.
The waves can be seen lashing against the stern of the yacht, now some distance from the coast.
The cause of the incident has not yet been determined, local outlet Protothema reports.
But it seems that the safety systems on board worked.
It was also claimed that the water leaking into the vessel had “run out” without any intervention.
The stunning yacht, built in 2014, is available for private charter, inviting guests to enjoy a “warm and welcoming” atmosphere while soaking up the Greek sun.
The ship has space for 12 guests and nine staff members, with 12 beds on board divided between a master suite and two VIP cabins.
A ‘beach club’, sauna and gym are included so guests can relax in peace during their holiday.
This works out at a cost of £150,000 per week (plus expenses) and up to £180,000 in peak season.
Five British holidaymakers had to be rescued from their burning 21ft motor boat off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos last August after it burst into flames.
One passenger reportedly suffered burns when the boat caught fire about 250 feet from shore.
It is unclear what sparked the fire, but flames quickly engulfed the 21-foot vessel before the ship was completely engulfed by the inferno.
All tourists and crew on board were able to safely disembark from the ship.
A private boat appeared nearby as guards monitored the situation from shore.
The impressive 150-foot megayacht comes fully equipped with an onboard gym and beach club.
The boat can cost tourists up to £180,000 a week plus expenses.
Images showed huge plumes of black smoke rising from the wreckage as rescue teams rushed in to help.
Just two months earlier, British tourists had to be rescued from a burning boat off the island of Rhodes.
The British tourists were on board when the inferno engulfed the entire ship after a fire broke out about 300 metres from Stenga beach in the town of Archangelos.
Passengers told how they were forced to jump into the water when the entire wooden deck where they were standing began to catch fire.
The Greek coast guard said all 82 passengers were eventually brought ashore, but witnesses said the children were still “traumatised” by the horrific experience.
(tags to translate)dailymail