Superyachts burn and sink near Spit Bridge
Updated ,first published
A fire destroyed several superyachts at a marina on Sydney’s north shore, resulting in four people being evacuated and a woman taken to hospital.
Emergency services were called to a massive fire at the Spit Marina at the southern end of the Spit Bridge in Mosman shortly before 3.30am on Friday.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said 40 firefighters were needed to control the blaze, which burned a number of “large superyachts”.
“Three of these big yachts sank,” Dewberry told Nine’s. Today program.
“We’re still waiting for that to reignite, which is a little out of the water, but it looks like it’s over.”
NSW Ports Authority boats were also involved in extinguishing the fire and helping to remove fuel and oils from ships to prevent water contamination.
“There’s a lot of debris in the water,” Dewberry said.
Three ships were lost and a fourth was badly damaged, but the fire could have been even more damaging, the official said.
“There are dozens of boats and yachts and a lot of money, and people live on some of these ships,” Dewberry said.
When authorities arrived at the marina, one ship was completely burned and four people had managed to escape the flames. NSW Ambulance treated a woman for smoke inhalation before she was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The fire spread to destroy three more ships at the marina, NSW Police said in a statement.
Footage from the scene shows one of the charred boats sinking.
One of the lanes on the north side of the Spit Bridge was closed and drivers were advised to drive carefully in the area.
The fire is not considered suspicious at this time.
The Spit Marina area is operated by d’Albora and also hosts a range of marine services, boat rentals and brokerage services, as well as a boat club and restaurants.
It is described as “one of Sydney Harbour’s most prestigious boating precincts” with “exclusive superyacht berths”.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
