A 150ft, $24million superyacht catches fire while carrying a number of passengers and crew.
FORMENTERA in Spain: In a horrific event, scores of guests and crew were on board a $24m (£20m) superyacht when it caught fire. According to reports, Paolo Scudieri, an Italian business tycoon, recently purchased the 150ft sailing yacht Aria SF. On Thursday August 11, near Cala Saona, on the western shore of the Mediterranean island of Formentera, tragedy struck.
Nine riders and seven staff were there when the fire broke out, but none were injured. According to The Daily Mail, two Spanish Coastguard vessels saved their lives. According to the spokesperson for the Spanish Coast Guard Service, “Seven crew members and nine passengers are all safe and sound. They have been taken to a police boat for safety reasons. At the moment the fire is almost extinct.
They continued: “After the alarm was raised at around 5pm yesterday/Thursday, two coastguard vessels, Salvamar Acrux and Guardamar Concepcion Arenal, were summoned by our coordination center in Palma in Mallorca. It is not yet known whether Scudieri was also present when the fire broke out, which was so large and deadly that it could easily be seen from another island, Ibiza.
Five bedrooms, a gym and a swimming pool were reportedly featured in Aria SF, sources say. Additionally, it was set to make its public debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2022, which runs from September 6-11. Following the fire, the boat was reportedly transported to Ibiza with the help of a coastguard vessel, where an investigation was opened.
150-foot superyacht, $24 million
On Twitter, a video of the incident was also posted. Paolo Scudieri’s 45-meter-long Aria SF boat is on fire in Formentera, according to the caption that has been added. This year, a luxury boat with a price of more than 20 million euros was produced.
The yacht’s owner, Scudieri, is also believed to be the chairman of Gruppo Addler, a company that produces components for automobile interiors. The company was founded in 1956 by the father of the industrialist, Achille, born in Naples. Gruppo Addler “designs and manufactures acoustic and thermal components for the automotive industry,” according to the Daily Mail article.
According to reports, the company has more than 15,000 employees working in more than 20 countries and its annual turnover exceeds $1.21 billion (£1 billion). He discussed his first meeting with Italian racing driver Enzo Ferrari in an interview. He recalls: “I sent a birthday card to Enzo Ferrari when I was 20 and already a big fan. I found his response, which included a reservation for the next morning at 8:00.
“I didn’t hesitate, I got into the car right away, and despite my mother’s wishes, I drove all night to be on time the next morning in front of my idol. The father of four continued: “I never imagined that in a few years I would become their supplier.
Scudieri’s net worth is also estimated to be around $500 million. He is president of the family business and tourism ambassador for the Principality of Monaco. Not only that, but the 62-year-old has also increased his presence in the food industry as the owner of Excellence Campane, the umbrella company for many Italian shops and restaurants.
