A fire at a superyacht berth in Sydney's Middle Harbour has caused three luxury yachts to sink, with a fourth vessel badly damaged. Emergency services were called to The Spit marina in Mosman at 3:30am on Friday after reports of a blaze, New South Wales police said.
On arrival, firefighters found a yacht 'well alight' and evacuated four people from the vessel. One woman was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital in a stable condition. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the fire could have been much worse, but swift action by firefighters and a Port Authority fire tug prevented further spread.
Dewberry said the focus has now shifted to a hazmat stage, with booms being deployed to contain contamination from fuel, oil, and debris. 'We've got three of these large yachts that have sunk,' he told Nine's Today show. 'We're working with the Port Authority of NSW to get booms around to make sure we capture all of that contamination.'
Police said initial inquiries have been conducted and the fire is not being treated as suspicious. Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray praised the 'fast work overnight' from emergency services and the Port Authority for containing the blaze and limiting pollution spread into Middle Harbour.
The Spit marina is one of six in Sydney recommended for superyachts over 30 metres, offering 106 secure wet berths for vessels up to 50 metres. One northbound lane of Spit Road was closed on Friday morning as investigations continue.
