Blast fears after B240m super yacht catches fire

PHUKET: Fire fighters were called out yesterday morning to put out a blaze on a 240 million baht super yacht moored at a pier in Thalang district. No one was injured.

The 55-metre yacht named Lady D was moored at the far end of the Ao Por Grand Marina pier, making fire fighting efforts difficult, according to local authorities.

A crewman on board the yacht had tried in vain to put the fire out using an extinguisher. The fire-engulfed the yacht had to be cut loose and set adrift to prevent the blaze spreading to nearby vessels at the pier.

Tambon Pa Krok municipal mayor, Panya Sampaorat, said the fire started towards the stern of the yacht and quickly spread to the upper floors. Five fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze.

Pol Col Theerawat Liamsuwan, head of Thalang district police, said the yacht recently arrived from Langkawi in Malaysia.

The cause was not immediately known. Forensic experts were to collect evidence when it was safe to do so.

He said the British-registered yacht was captained by Canadian national, Ted Blenkers, and had a full fuel tank when the fire occurred. The owner is not currently in Thailand, according to the police. Provincial governor Pakkapong Thawiwat said pontoons were thrown around the yacht to contain any petrol spillage and to keep people away in case of a possible explosion.

The authorities planned to tow the yacht to the nearby uninhabited island of Koh Nang yesterday for safety reasons.