Classic motor yacht Espadarte damaged by fire off Italy
Image courtesy of Vigili del Fuoco
The 50-metre classic motor yacht Espadarte has been damaged following a fire off the coast of Agropoli, Italy. The Malta-registered vessel was approximately 17 nautical miles from the coastal town when a blaze broke out in its engine room in the early hours of the morning on Thursday (9 October 2025).
Two Italian Coast Guard patrol boats and a tug carrying firefighters from the Vigili del Fuoco national fire and rescue service were dispatched to conduct firefighting and rescue operations. According to local reports, the yacht’s crew initially attempted to tackle the fire themselves, with a privately owned vessel also arriving on-scene to offer assistance.
Authorities successfully evacuated the 16 people on board, with one of the patrol boats transporting them to shore. Firefighters and the remaining crew worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading beyond the engine room. The fire was eventually brought under control later that evening, after which Espadarte was towed to the port of Salerno for assessment. No serious injuries have been reported.
Delivered in 1968 by Portugal’s Arsenal do Alfeite shipyard to military specifications, Espadarte has had a storied past and numerous refits over the decades.
Originally believed to have been commissioned for Portugal’s Estado Novo regime, the yacht later passed through several high-profile owners, including Sheikh Mouffak al-Midani and Greek shipowner John Karageorgis, before being acquired by its current Australian owners.
Extensively rebuilt at the Lusben shipyard in Livorno, Italy, Espadarte features a beach-house-inspired interior, a 30-metre main-deck saloon and dining area, and upgraded amenities such as a swim platform and beach club. The vessel accommodates 12 guests across six cabins, carries a 1968 Riva Olympic among its watercraft, and cruises the Mediterranean from the Balearics to the Greek islands, returning to Malta for the winter.
Espadarte has since been towed to Salerno, where it will be assessed for damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
