Crew of 54m Charter Yacht Persefoni I Charged with Arson

Thirteen crew members of the 53.8-meter Mariotti charter yacht Persefoni I have been accused of arson after appearing at the criminal court in Piraeus, Greece (23 June), according to the Athens News Agency (ANA).

Fireworks were allegedly launched from the superyacht and sparked a forest fire on the Greek island of Hydra on Friday evening (21 June), which consequently destroyed the island's only pine forest. Local Greek media showed the crew members arriving at the criminal court in Piraeus to answer charges on Sunday.

The crew were arrested by arson unit investigators in the fire brigade when they docked near Athens on Saturday (22 June) and were led to the Saronikos Port Authority in Piraeus. A witness report collected by the Hydra Port Authority from the captain of a nearby yacht testified that the blaze was started by fireworks originating from the suspects' vessel on Friday evening.

The flames were brought under control in the early hours of Saturday morning on the island of Hydra, which lies south of Athens. With no road access to the beach, firefighters fought the flames from the sea while helicopters dropped water from above. According to the country’s minister of climate crisis and civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias, six aeroplanes and two teams of firefighters were on the scene.

The crew are expected to enter a plea by Wednesday and the boat has been temporarily held by authorities pending an investigation.

According to news outlet ANA, fireworks are banned during high-temperature days. Legislation for arson and ecological destruction has recently been toughened in Greece.

Designed inside and out by Luca Dini, Persefoni I was built in steel and aluminium by Mariotti Yachts and delivered in 2012. She underwent a comprehensive refit in 2023 and accommodates up to 12 guests in six cabins, with further space for 13 crew.