MY If Only, the 39m Feadship built in 1974, was recorded billowing smoke as the vessel approached Nice. It is understood that If Only is property of Diana Bracco, the Milanese entrepreneur, and that she was on board at the time with friends, family and crew - including some children. All seven passengers and four crew members escaped the yacht unscathed.

Reportedly, the initial alarm was sent out from the control tower of Nice airport, which had spotted smoke rising from the vessel. It is suspected that the fire was caused by an electrical fire in the engine room, however, as yet, there has been no confirmation of this. The incident is not being treated as suspicious, an investigation into the cause of the fire will follow.

The local fire service was able to respond promptly to the alarm and rescue all passengers tackling the fire itself. One of the fire fighters has been admitted to Antibes hospital as a result of inhaling the noxious fumes caused by the conflagration of the superyacht.  

Incidents, such as the fire on If Only, serve as a potent reminder of the dangers of the superyachting market. Fortunately, incidents of this sort are rare, but it cannot be understated how important safety standards, procedures and training can be for all on board superyachts.

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