Fire crews raced to East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight, UK, after dense smoke was spotted billowing from the explorer yacht Kahu.
The 23.24m motor yacht, built by Nordhavn in 2011, was up for sale. Around 25 firefighters, officers from the Environment Agency, and coastguards were still on the scene tonight (Tuesday) as the fire burned. Eye-witnesses reported that the flames spread quickly around the vessel before part of the yacht collapsed into the water.
Stephanie Rennie, who works at the nearby The Lifeboat pub, locked the windows and doors after smoke and soot covered tables. 'It smelt really grim,' she said.
Morgan Strange, who works opposite the scene of the blaze, said, 'There was a lot of black smoke and then the flames started to spread pretty quickly up to the flybridge at which point the radar dome caught fire and then collapsed on to the fly-bridge.'
A Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the yacht was 'well alight' and that crews from Newport, East Cowes and Ryde stations were in attendance with five pumps.
Kahu was one of the largest boats in the marina. Tim Griffin, who runs Griffin Marine and moors his boat close by, said: 'The marina staff were quick to act and moved any boats near her. The harbour master's Sea Clear was on hand with fire pumps and firemen on board. It is such a shame as she was a sight to be seen at the marina.'