Marine company staff rescued after boat they were on catches fire close to Salerie
TWO men were rescued from a burning boat yesterday morning just off Salerie Corner.
The 10m-long motor launch was being taken from the QEII Marina to St Sampson’s Harbour by staff from a marine trading company when a fire broke out.
‘At 9.52am, Guernsey Vessel Traffic Services signal station spotted a vessel on fire in the approach channel to the QEII Marina,’ said assistant harbour master James Way, who coordinated the response.
‘When the fire broke out the men on board anchored the vessel and another smaller vessel came alongside to remove the crew, who were completely unharmed.’
The coastguard was then alerted, and the crew of the St Peter Port inshore lifeboat were paged to launch as the all-weather lifeboat was already on her way to Sark for a medical transfer.
Herm Trident V and the harbour workboat Sarnia also went to help and the crew of the Sarnia put the fire out from a distance using its water cannon.
Trident skipper Chris Perkins had been on his way back from the 9.35am sailing from Herm when they heard about the stricken boat and went to its assistance.
‘We were about a mile out when we heard the call on the radio,’ he said.
‘By the time we arrived the two men on board had been removed. We didn’t try and extinguish the fire as it was a diesel fire, instead we dosed the boat with our seawater hose to keep the decks cool and stop the fire spreading before the Sarnia arrived. As it got hot we backed away. The Sarnia arrived shortly afterwards and was able to tackle the blaze.’
The fire was under control by 10.30. The badly-damaged vessel was then towed into St Peter Port harbour by the Sarnia for inspection by the Fire & Rescue Service and the duty harbour master.
The inshore lifeboat was stood down once it was confirmed that all crew were safe.
