VIDEO: Fire rips through large motor yacht in Torquay Marina

A clean-up operation has begun after a large motor yacht caught fire (watch video of yacht fire below) and sank in a Torquay Marina, with about nine tonnes of diesel on board.

The cause of the fire on the 85ft (26m) boat at Princess Pier in Torquay, Devon is currently being treated as unexplained. However, Torquay Marina has confirmed that there were no casualties or other boats damaged.

Firefighters battled the blaze on Saturday (28 May), with the fire service confirming at 13.30 that part of the pier was also on fire, reports ITV.

Crews deployed four breathing apparatus wearers, one compressed air foam jet, two 45mm jets, and two pumps. Water relay was carried out by an open water source, as well as a street hydrant.

The boat, which police say broke from its mooring, was secured by the fire service near the marina’s pier before it sank at about 16:00.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) says it had five appliances at the scene, and the case has been handed over to the Environment Agency and the harbourmaster.

Officers evacuated a nearby beach and roads, with one witness describing the blaze as “like a fireball”.

By around 18:00, the fire was out and crews were working on damping down the pier.

Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team says a ‘large crowd of onlookers were evacuated from the pier’ and that the RNLI helped a small number of people to safety ‘who were trapped by heavy smoke at the end of the pier’.

Devon & Cornwall Police said no-one was reported injured but nearby residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut ‘due to the levels of smoke and fumes’.

The BBC reports eyewitnesses heard a loud bang before the fire, which seems to have spread from the front end, engulfing the entire boat despite the efforts of firefighters. A large column of black smoke spread over the harbour.

More explosions followed. The vessel broke free from its moorings and, still on fire, drifted toward the pier, where it continued to burn. First-responders were able to secure it here for damage control. The remains sank shortly after.

Torquay’s harbourmaster Rob Parsons told the BBC that contractors had laid three booms around the boat and were skimming the area inside, sucking the diesel out and transferring it away in tankers.

“She actually sank in a way that was very helpful, believe it or not – so she went straight down,” Parsons says.

“Overnight I was concerned but the wind has been in our favour – it’s pushed it, it’s kept it all together against the wall, so I’m very confident at the moment that we have the majority of it.”

Torquay Marina has praised the ‘fantastic team effort by the emergency services, harbour authorities, staff, and customers,’ on facebook. A statement says ‘we were able to contain the emergency situation and avoid a major catastrophe. Thank you to everyone who helped today, you were amazing.

‘We really appreciate your patience and understanding today.

‘We now have several booms around the area to protect the environment. Please continue to be patient during the clean up process.’

Online commentary tells the story of the marina team’s involvement, and praises the quick actions taken.

One commentator says the team ‘jumped into action immediately and limited the damage,’ and then says ‘All the boats close to Rendezvous were quickly moved so no other boats were damaged.’

‘What an horrific scene,’ says another. ‘So pleased no one was hurt and that the incident was contained. An amazing team on hand at MDL as always and terrific work by the emergency services.’

’85ft of burning fibreglass,’ says one berth holder in the marina. ‘Thank god there was an easterly breeze steering the fumes & fallout away from the marina & when the lines burnt through it drifted away onto the stone pier.

‘If it had been the forecasted SW winds it would of been a different ending to the story.’

The what-if factor is a common theme.

‘If the wind was in the opposite direction or the boat was moored elsewhere the whole of the marina would of been wiped out. Very sad what happened today but also very very lucky for all the other boats moored in the marina and no one was hurt.’

Image courtesy of Torquay Marina (Facebook) and AutoEvolution