The 45 metre ISA motor yacht Aria SF has sunk off the coast of Cap Martinet, Ibiza, following a devastating fire that ripped through the yacht on August 11 in the waters of Formentera.
After several hours of tackling the blaze, the still-smouldering vessel was towed away from the busy waters of Formentera towards Ibiza, but it was deemed too dangerous for it to enter the port.
Aria SF remained in the waters of Cap Martinet until August 14 when she sunk. She is currently lying at a depth of around 12 metres.
In a statement made to a local media outlet, Miguel Chicón, a spokesperson for Salvamento Marítimo (Maritime Salvage) commended the efforts of the salvage vessel which towed Aria SF to its current resting place.
"It has been a very expensive job and the effort of the staff of the Guardamar Concepción Arenal has been impressive," he said, adding that no injuries or contamination has been reported.
The fire broke out while the yacht was on her maiden season in the Mediterranean. According to local news reports, the Spanish Coast Guard received a distress call at 5pm local time and sent two rescue boats to offer assistance to the vessel and its crew.
The yacht's nine guests and seven crewmembers evacuated the vessel safely, but initial attempts to contain the fire were unsuccessful. She remained ablaze for more than 24 hours.
Aria SF was sold in March 2019 as the first hull in a new GT45 series of superyachts by Italian shipyard ISA Yachts. She left the shipyard only last month and was due to make her world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September.
Prior to the sinking, the salvage vessel which towed Aria SF remained by her side for several hours at Cap Martinet. According to local media, the vessel withdrew from the area on Saturday August 13 and the salvage operation will now be handled by the owner.
The salvage operation is expected to get underway in the coming weeks. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Read More/Watch: A first look on board 45m ISA superyacht Aria SF