A partly submerged cargo ship is raised from the harbour in Naples by a collective of sailors, and made seaworthy again. It embarks on its first voyage to Buenos Aires. A wealthy businessman Matteo La Spina offers to buy the boat from them, revealing to his daughter Diana that he actually plans to set it alight during the return passage to Naples and claim the insurance money. She returns to the ship to try and save it, but accidentally triggers the inflammable materials in the hold. Although the fire is put out, she dies in the process.
