The Italian luxury liner SS Principessa Jolanda (sometimes written Iolanda) was the largest Italian passenger ship ever built at the time, costing 6 million lire in 1907. Built by Cantiere Navale di Riva Trigoso for the Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI) shipping company, she was named after Princess Iolanda Margherita di Savoia, the eldest daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III. The ship was scheduled to serve the South American service route, and was one of the first transatlantic vessels fitted with Marconi wireless technology. The Jolanda also had electric lighting and telephones in every cabin.
At 12:25 pm on September 22, 1907, the Principessa Jolanda was nearly completed, and was launched at its Genoese shipyard in Rivo Tragoso. A large audience was present for the launch, including journalists and government officials. The ship became unstable as it slid down the slipway and immediately listed to port as it entered the water. The stern became raised, putting incredible pressure on the bow, and the ship began to leak and take on water through its portholes and hatches.
Tugboats and dockworkers attempted to right the ship but were unsuccessful. The ship soon capsized with her funnels visible, parallel to the surface of the water. After just an hour, almost the entire ship had sunk beneath the surface. The crew and guests on board were all able to evacuate in lifeboats and there were no casualties.
Salvage efforts were considered impossible and the ship was broken apart. Only the engines were recovered and were put to use on another vessel.
Investigation into the incident concluded the instability was caused by the ship being fitted with all its furnishings and other items, without any coal or other ballast in the hull to provide stability, causing the center of gravity to be too high. Many objects on board were also not secured and simply slid to port while the ship was being launched. It was also concluded that the ship was launched too quickly. Overall, it was concluded the design of the ship was not at fault, but instead a series of mistakes was the cause of the ship’s demise.