The yacht named Aria SF, measuring about 45 meters in length, was on fire last Thursday in Saone Bay. It was being towed toward a waypoint that points toward Ibiza, with the Salvamento Marítimo broadcasting that officials are awaiting a decision on whether the vessel will be transferred to the port of Ibiza or Palma. The ultimate choice rests with the owner and the party responsible for the tow, guided by safety assessments and port accessibility criteria.
The towing operation is conducted by Guardamar Concepcion Arenal, a vessel operated by Maritime Rescue and stationed in Sant Antoni. Eight members of the offshore emergency team remain engaged with Aria SF since firefighting actions managed to bring the flames under control late on the previous night, though the fire itself was not fully extinguished. There are concerns that water ballast loads could destabilize the hull, potentially leading to shifting masses or a loss of balance if cooling efforts falter or structural integrity is compromised further.
The Salvamento operation indicates that, from the moment the vessel was towed, Aria SF began drifting south from Cala Saona and has since approached the Formentera border just east of La Mola. Current readings show the craft advancing at roughly 3.5 knots, located a few miles offshore, with a course veering northeast toward an intermediate point between Ibiza and Mallorca. The marine salvage service emphasized that the owner, upon the sea captain’s request, must decide whether to employ a dedicated unit to assume control of the boat and determine its final destination, balancing safety, cost, and risk considerations for all involved parties.
The Marine Rescue communications center stated that, in principle, there is no immediate danger of dangerous spills. Regarding the prospect of sinking, they noted that while weather remains marked by wind and seas, the situation carries inherent risks and must be managed with continuous vigilance and readiness to adapt to changing conditions or new emergencies as they arise.