A fierce pre-dawn fire has ripped through an exclusive marina on Sydney's affluent north shore, sending three multi-million pound luxury yachts to the bottom of the harbour and unleashing a significant fuel leak that prompted a major environmental containment operation.
Flames Spread Rapidly at Premier Berthing Hub
The blaze erupted in the early hours of Friday 9 January 2026 at The Spit marina in Mosman, a berthing hub renowned for hosting some of the city's most expensive superyachts. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 3.30am, with crews arriving to find one vessel already “well alight” as flames jumped between moored boats.
Four people were successfully evacuated from the affected yacht. One woman was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital in a stable condition. More than 40 firefighters, alongside the Port Authority of NSW firefighting vessel Girawaa, battled the inferno for approximately 2.5 hours before bringing it under control.
Environmental Hazard and Salvage Plans
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry confirmed the extensive damage, stating, “We’ve got three of these large yachts that have sunk.” He outlined the immediate shift to a hazardous materials (hazmat) phase, working to capture contamination from the sunken vessels.
With fuel and oil leaking into Middle Harbour, authorities acted swiftly to limit the ecological impact. Containment booms were deployed and an exclusion zone established around the marina. Planning for a complex salvage operation is now underway, with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fully briefed on the incident.
Coordinated Response Prevents Greater Catastrophe
Officials have praised the emergency response, crediting it with preventing a far wider disaster. Superintendent Dewberry highlighted the risk, noting, “Out here, there’s dozens of boats and yachts and a lot of money, and people are living on some of these vessels as well.” He confirmed a fourth yacht was badly damaged, but many more were saved.
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray echoed this, stating in a release, “All reports to me are that this could have been far worse had it not been contained to the four luxury boats.” Police have completed preliminary checks and confirmed the fire is not being treated as suspicious, though investigations into the cause are ongoing.
The incident caused significant local disruption, with one northbound lane of Spit Road closed during Friday morning's clean-up. Authorities continue to monitor the harbour for any further pollution from the wreckage.
