New footage has emerged of the moment a stunning Italian superyacht began sinking off an idyllic Greek resort island, just two months after undergoing a full refit.
The 150ft megayacht ‘Ethos’, a vessel that costs charterers a whopping £180,000 a week, was spotted taking on water off the coast of Kefalonia while in Paleokaravo Bay earlier this week.
It was later revealed that the break-in occurred after one of the crew members accidentally left a door open and did not have time to close it once the weather “changed,” according to local media. reports.
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, on-deck jacuzzi and jet skis, it promises guests “exceptional levels of comfort whilst at anchor or underway”, and has just undergone a full interior refit after its new owner bought the ship for around £16m.
The 150ft megayacht ‘Ethos’, which costs charterers a whopping £180,000 a week, was spotted taking on water off the coast of Kefalonia.
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,” local media reported.
The yacht had undergone an interior renovation two months before the sinking.
Amazing scenes showed the moment the ship started taking on water in the Ionian Sea.
The five tourists on board disembarked safely along with the five crew members on board, Protothema reported yesterday, after the boat was towed to shore.
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.
Waves can be seen lashing the stern of the yacht which was drifting some distance from the coast.
It then listed to starboard and began to sink, but the captain managed to avoid a total catastrophe by moving the ship into shallower waters.
Another clip later circulated on social media showing the stricken vessel being pulled out of harm’s way so its guests and crew could disembark.
The extent of the damage is not yet known, but it is believed the yacht will need to undergo major repairs and the recently renovated interior may need to be refitted.
Divers were assigned to clear water from the ship as it was parked off the eastern side of Kefalonia yesterday.
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.
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.
The partial sinking of the Ethos is just one of several maritime accidents that have occurred in waters near Greece in recent years.
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.
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.