A $1 million luxury ship has sunk off the Turkish coast only 15 minutes after it began its maiden voyage. In the terrifying accident, passengers and crew were forced to leap overboard. The vessel, called Dolce Vento – or Sweet Wind in Italian – glided into the waters off the coast of Zonguldak in northern Turkey. Footage captured it listing to one side and gradually disappearing beneath the surface.
The roughly 85-foot boat, valued at around $940,000 (£700,000) had taken it to the seas for the first time after being delivered to its owner in Istanbul. The owner, skipper, and two crew members were spotted diving overboard and swimming safely to shore. The Coast Guard and port teams established a security cordon around the vessel.
Under the clip posted on Instagram, users commented jokingly. “It comes with a submarine mode too?” said one person. Another person wrote: “Seems like a really expensive way to test life jackets.”
Meanwhile, others speculated that the top of the ship was too top-heavy, which could’ve caused the sinking.
“The accident likely occurred due to an excessive top weight, which resulted in a low metacentric height,” wrote one person.
“This condition significantly reduced the yacht’s stability, causing it to capsize shortly after launch. Proper weight distribution and stability calculations are crucial before launching any vessel.”
There is an ongoing investigation into the sinking, and the yacht will be inspected to determine what happened.
It comes after a mum’s £2,500 dream family holiday to Turkey turned into a nightmare when she broke her leg in three places after slipping on an unmarked wet floor aboard a “pirate boat”.
Shannon Hill, 34, was on her first family trip abroad since 2019 with her husband, two young children, and mother-in-law in Antalya when the accident happened on May 16 during a pre-booked boat excursion.
She slipped whilst going to the toilet, hearing her bone snap. The break required surgery with screws and a metal plate, leaving her in agony and having to relearn how to walk. She’s awaiting a second operation in December. The ordeal has left Shannon with a fear of wet floors and boats, and she’s too frightened to book another holiday.