Thanks to a swift multi-agency response and the assistance of several good Samaritan boaters in the area, all passengers were evacuated safely with no reported injuries. The group, believed to include numerous social media influencers, was transported to the Miami Beach Marina. Miami Beach Fire Department personnel confirmed all evacuees were medically assessed and cleared on scene.
The sleek carbon-fibre yacht, delivered in 2023 and valued at approximately USD $4 million (NZD ~$6.7 million), is part of a limited-edition collaboration between Italian luxury boatbuilder Tecnomar and automotive giant Lamborghini. Boasting a top speed of over 60 knots and powered by twin 2,000-horsepower V12 engines, the vessel was engineered more for performance and prestige than for packing in large crowds.
According to specifications on both the manufacturer’s website and multiple sales listings, the yacht’s maximum safe capacity is listed between 12 and 16 people, depending on configuration. On this occasion, TNT had 32 aboard—more than double its certified passenger limit.
Witnesses described the scene as alarming. “It was straight up in the water—completely vertical,” said one observer. “There were police boats, rescue teams, and people in the water with luxury items in hand. It definitely didn’t look ordinary.”
USCG Southeast confirmed the yacht was partially submerged when first responders arrived, having taken on water rapidly through the aft section. Imagery from the scene showed the yacht stern-down, with the starboard side listing slightly before it capsized into shallow water.
Despite the dramatic visuals and the luxury trappings—including reports of passengers clutching $350 bottles of tequila and designer gear—Coast Guard officials remained focused on the successful outcome. “The coordinated response between Coast Guard, local police, and volunteer mariners was critical,” a USCG spokesperson said in a social media statement.
Commercial salvage crews have since refloated and removed the yacht. The vessel was reportedly not posing a hazard to navigation, and salvage work was carried out without complications. Investigators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are now leading the inquiry into the incident. Early indications suggest that gross overloading may have contributed to the vessel’s instability.
The event has sparked widespread conversation around boat safety, social media culture, and the perception of invincibility often associated with luxury boating. Miami yacht broker Oscar Diaz, who witnessed the scene from a nearby vessel, remarked: “In eight years I’ve only seen one other boat sink like this. These boats aren’t built for crowding. If they’d been in open water, this could’ve been tragic.”
Though it appears no criminal charges have yet been laid, ownership of TNT remains unclear. The yacht is listed for sale on multiple brokerage sites, which could indicate it was either chartered or in a private transaction at the time of the incident. Whether the vessel was under charter and if a licensed captain was aboard has not been disclosed.
The Lamborghini 63 yacht series is often compared to supercars on the sea. Inspired by the Lamborghini Sian hybrid hypercar, the vessel’s design includes aggressive lines, premium materials, and automotive-inspired features like carbon detailing, bucket seating, and a signature red “Start/Stop” ignition button.
But as the Miami incident shows, even the flashiest boats aren’t immune to the basic laws of seamanship. “Luxury doesn’t equal safety when boats are misused,” said a Coast Guard official involved in the rescue. “Too many people, too little caution—that’s a recipe for disaster, no matter what brand’s on the transom.”
The FWC investigation is ongoing. For now, the yacht has been pulled from the water, its passengers are safe, and the Coast Guard has closed the incident as a successful SAR response.
