Engine fire prompts motorboat rescue in the Solent

Laura Hodgetts
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Rescuers were tasked to assist the crew of a 36ft motor boat yesterday after it caught fire in the Solent.

UK Coastguard asked Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) and Portsmouth RNLI Lifeboat to assist just after 1pm after the vessel issued an emergency radio distress call.

When GAFIRS located the vessel – which was around a mile off Browndown, Gosport – smoke had filled the cabin of the flybridge vessel. The two crew on board the vessel were transferred onto Gosport Independent Lifeboat before a GAFIRS crew man investigated.

36ft motor boat rescued after engine fire in Solent. Credit GAFIRS

Credit: GAFIRS

GAFIRS coxswain Peter Byford said: ‘Opening the engine hatch could have caused the fire to get worse. The vessel’s fire extinguisher had snuffed out the flames so we decided to tow the vessel to Portsmouth Harbour where the fire service could investigate further.’

GAFIRS towed the vessel to Camber Dock where the Portsmouth Coastguard Mobile team and the fire service were waiting. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to investigate the engine bay and discovered the source of the blaze on top of one of the engines.

36ft motor boat rescued after engine fire in Solent. Credit GAFIRS

Credit: GAFIRS

Once the fire service were happy the vessel was safe to move, GAFIRS towed it to Haslar Marina where Hillhead Coastguard mobile team helped Gosport independent lifeboat bring the vessel safely alongside.