Blaze at Zea Marina, Greece, Results in Sinking of Four Luxury Yachts

In the early hours of a brisk November morning, the tranquil, azure harbor at Greece’s Zea Marina was disrupted by an unforeseen tragedy. Four majestic vessels, including the renowned 43.1-metre Overmarine yacht Sanctuary and two others that spanned more than 24 meters, sunk under the weight of a disastrous blaze that invaded the marina. Alongside these luxury vessels was the 24.1-metre Azimut yacht Alkyone, anchored nearby when disaster struck. As per local sources, the calamity originated aboard the day-trip sailing boat Mirasol, but rapidly spread, engulfing and sinking numerous vessels in the immediate vicinity. Despite the prompt response of twenty firefighters from the Fire Department and the Coast Guard, the flames burned unhampered for over five deadly hours. The Sanctuary has a rich nautical lineage, being one of the four Mangusta Oceano 43 models. Birthed from the designs of an all-Italian team, inclusive of Alberto Mancini and Pierluigi Ausonio, the yacht was well-regarded as a lucrative charter vessel. The elegance of the yacht, with its foredeck swimming pool and phenomenal accommodation capacity for 12 guests, featured a full-beam owner’s suite with a fold-down balcony. Unfortunately, these vessels are now lost to the depths of the harbor waters. Enigmatically, this incident was not the first encounter the Zea Marina had with such a catastrophe. Several years prior, in August 2024, a similar fire rampaged through the marina and caused destruction to three yachts, including the 42.3-metre Picchiotti motor yacht, Libra Y, designed by industry titans Don Shead and Jon Bannenberg. While no casualties have occurred, the cause of the fire remains shrouded in mystery and active investigation. Such high-profile incidents serve as a reminder of the inherent dangers that the serene maritime life can harbor.