It’s unknown how much diesel has leaked into the water. It’s too early to say whether the majority of fuel had burnt off in the fire. The launch caught fire and sank on Wednesday about 9.50pm. The fire is believed to have ignited in the cockpit that housed the batteries. People on board at the time the fire started were able to escape safely but their vessel is now at the bottom of the ocean. Barnett said the owners are now engaging a salvor and the wreck could be removed as early as Saturday. “The quicker we do that the better . we need to be part of that process as it’s possible some more fuel might be dislodged in the movement of the wreck,” Barnett said.
Pair escape late night boat fire at Woolshed Bay, Coromandel
3 Feb, 2021 05:57 PM
Quick Read
A pair of boaties have been forced to jump ship in Coromandel.
A police media spokeswoman said they received a report of a boat fire in Woolshed Bay about 9.50pm.
There were two people on the boat but they managed to get onto another vessel uninjured, she said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they were not called to the incident.
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