$3.4m yacht sunk in UK harbour inferno

news
0
SHARE:

Officials are probing the cause of a blaze that resulted in the 85ft (26m) Rendezvous sinking  to the bottom of Torquay harbour, UK on Saturday May 28th. The vessel, built by Princess Yachts, was uncrewed at the time and the owner has  yet to be named.

“The Harbourmaster and Environmental Agency will look to safely recover the vessel in due course,” said Devon and Cornwall Police in a statement. A major clean-up operation is underway to protect the marina and local beaches, as the yacht sank with about 8,000 litres of diesel fuel on board. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire engine crews to the harbour, after receiving 47 calls just before 12pm on Saturday.

The emergency services found the yacht well alight along with a portion of Torquay pier. The police and fire departments evacuated people from the surrounding area and began fighting the inferno.  The yacht broke free from its mooring but was secured by the Fire Service near the pier. No injuries have been reported from the scene.

Rendezvous sank shortly after 4pm. During the incident, Devon and Cornwall police on Twitter: “Members of the public are also urged to avoid the area and beaches are being cleared by officers for public safety.”

Torquay Marina said in a statement: “Due to a fantastic team effort by the emergency services, harbour authorities, my staff, and our customers, we were able to contain the emergency situation and avoid a major catastrophe.”

 

SHARE: