23m Nordhavn "Kahu" Up In Flames

It's always sad to see megayachts go on fire or sink and that's what happened the 23m (75ft) Nordhavn "Kahu" on Tuesday afternoon on the 5th of November whilst she was docked at East Cowes Marina. The fire started onboard Kahu just after 13.00 and the incident was attended by the Fire, Police and Cowes Harbour Commission Services.

Credit to George Chastney

Teams tackled the fire from nearby pontoons and with the assistance of Cowes Harbour Commission's 16m Multi-Cat Seaclear. Despite this, the Kahu sadly sank at 22.45 on Tuesday evening, with approximately 8,000 litres of marine diesel fuel oil on board. Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) deployed oil spill prevention booms around the vessel during the fire.

Cowes Harbour Commission’s response was directed by Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh, who immediately activated CHC’s Harbour Emergency Plan and Oil Spill Response Plan in order to minimise the impact of any potential pollution incident arising from the sunken vessel.

Capt. Stuart McIntosh reported: "Cowes Harbour Commission has a well planned and rehearsed response for pollution incidents with back-up from specialist Oil Spill Response contractor Adler and Allan. The majority of the diesel fuel appears to be contained within the vessel’s fuel tanks. The team from Adler and Allen mobilised their oil spill emergency response unit yesterday evening, which is still on scene, and involved deploying further oil booms around the vessel to minimise any potential pollution."

"CHC has a statutory obligation to have an effective Oil Spill Response Plan in place, and our staff are trained to respond to just such an incident. We continuously review and update the plan, and hold regular exercises to test effectiveness so that we are prepared for scenarios like the unfortunate sinking of the Kahu."

Adler and Allan are still working with Cowes Harbour Commission to contain and recover the oil from the incident. Thank you to Capt. Stuart McIntosh for the comments on the indecent.

56m Benetti FB261 Up In Flames

Photo Credit: Il Tirreno Livorno

Devastating news for the Benetti yard today as the 56m (184ft) Benetti project number FB261 caught fire this morning August 20th at around 11.30am as she was sitting at the dock at the Benetti facility in Livorno Italy. Bannenberg & Rowell had just completed her interior and she was expected to be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show next month. Thankfully its been reported that no one was aboard or injured when the fire broke out. We are now awaiting a statement from Benetti as to the extent of the damages and will keep you up to date as soon as the news comes in.

The photos are credited to the Il Tirreno Livorno news website. And for more information please follow their link:  Il Tirreno

Photo Credit: Il Tirreno Livorno

"Star Fish" Fate Now Known

Three months after the midnight fire at McMullen & Wing’s Auckland New Zealand shipyard that damaged the 50m (164ft) steel/aluminium Superyacht Star Fish, the future of the project is now known. The remaining undamaged hull, machinery and equipment assets of the project are available for immediate sale for completion by McMullen & Wing. In need of a new superstructure and interior, the vessel could be launched in 18 months, offering a new owner an outstanding high volume custom expedition yacht, fully warranted by her original award-winning New Zealand shipyard, at a very substantial discount from normal new build cost.

The Star Fish design is a larger development of the spectacularly successful and highly awarded 45m (147ft) Big Fish, built by McMullen & Wing for the same owner, Richard Beattie. Sharing the same high efficiency displacement hull form, the vessel offers incredible volume, stability and outstanding sea keeping characteristics proven over Big Fish’s 60,000nm of cruising and astonishing charter record.

Star Fish was 75% complete at the time of the fire, and due for launch in March 2013. Her steel hull and aluminium superstructure were complete, faired and painting was in progress. Interior accommodation was well progressed, electrical and electronic systems underway and machinery installation mostly complete.

The fire gutted the interior, which has now been removed. Damage to the superstructure was sufficient to warrant replacement of the entire aluminium fabrications, which have already also been largely removed and discarded. The completed steel hull was essentially undamaged. The engine room, which was 95% complete, was also saved, with only very minor impact which can be wholly restored.

In financial terms, repair and reinstatement of the fire damage to brand new condition represents about half the total cost which had been expended at the time of the fire. The remaining value post-fire, comprising steel hull, engine room machinery & fitout, extensive undamaged equipment inventory and design investment, has been assessed at over US$14m. It is available for purchase at a mere fraction of this value.

Superyacht Eos Catches Fire In Oslo

Photo By Mikhail Voytenko From Maritime Bulletin

The three masted, 92m (305ft) Superyacht 'Eos', third largest sailing yacht in the world caught fire at the weekend June 30th while in Oslo Norway. The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at around 3.15pm while she was moored on the eastern side of Oslo's harbour. The owners of this yacht (broadcasting and entertainment mogul Barry Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg) had been on board since Friday bringing the total number of people on board to 18. Fifteen fire fighters from Oslo’s fire and rescue service came to assist the yachts crew to fight the fire, which was brought under control by 8.15pm local time, five hours after emergency services were called. Lucky no one was injured in this incident.

The cause of the fire is still unknown but it has been reported that the damage has been contained to the superstructure and the top deck. Mega Yacht Global will bring you more information and pictures as it comes in.

Superyacht 360 Catches Fire in Nice

Photo by: Q Luxury Media

The 47m (154ft) Superyacht 360 launched in 2003 by ISA caught fire earlier today in Nice, France. Dozens of fire fighters battled the fire which is thought to have started due to an electrical fault. No one was injured in the fire, but the yachts spring charter season might be disrupted due to the damage. Mega Yacht Global will bring you more information as it comes.

Photo by: Q Luxury Media