A high-end yacht, the Dolce Vento, met with disaster just fifteen minutes after making its maiden voyage off the coast of Zonguldak in northern Turkey. The eighty-five-foot vessel, valued at approximately one million U.S. dollars, had only just been delivered from Istanbul when it began to tilt and slowly sank into the Black Sea.
Footage captured the moment the yacht eased into the water before listing sharply and descending beneath the waves. Onboard were the vessel’s owner, the captain, and two crew members—all of whom jumped overboard and swam safely to shore without injury. Local coast guard and port officials quickly arrived on the scene, establishing a security perimeter around the site of the incident.
Shipyard representatives confirmed that a full technical inspection of the Dolce Vento is underway. Authorities are investigating possible causes, including issues with stability or balance, but no definitive findings have yet been made.
The incident follows another recent maritime scare abroad, where a fishing boat carrying eleven passengers began taking on water off Sheepshead Bay in New York, prompting a rescue by the local harbor unit.
This dramatic event has prompted scrutiny of shipyard protocols and vessel safety measures during inaugural voyages. Officials are assessing whether design flaws, loading errors, or procedural oversights played a role in the rapid capsizing. Recovery operations and detailed examinations of the hull and equipment are expected to proceed in the coming days.