Photo by Tom Hawkins
Feathers of black smoke can be seen waving through the Solent this afternoon (Sunday) as a result of a boat that has been engulfed by fire on the Isle of Wight.
Gosport Lifeboat responded to a call for help to help a boat northeast of the Isle of Wight shortly before 3:30 p.m.
It soon became apparent that a larger lifeboat was needed, and so the Bembridge lifeboat was launched, before quickly setting up a trailer to try to bring the ship to the side in Portsmouth.
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However, the fire has spread throughout the ship and is now seized, so the trailer has stopped and the ship abandoned east of Horse Sand Fort, south of Hayling Island. .
The smoke has thickened and can be seen from miles around, but it is believed that everyone is safe.
There are now concerns about pollution in the area, as the ship is believed to contain a large amount of diesel, which could spill into the Solent.
UPDATE at 5:20 p.m .: The “Fast Flow” boat, a 39-foot motor boat, continues to burn.
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Island Echo understands that the ship left Chichester Marina near Birdham shortly before 2pm this afternoon and accelerated to about 17 knots in the Solent before the fire broke out.
UPDATE at 6:05 p.m. – The fire was tackled by a tugboat, which was shuffled from Portsmouth Harbor.
It is understood that the ship has sunk, with the fuel tanks separated from the ship. They have since been insured by Bembridge Lifeboat.
It has been confirmed that 2 people have been rescued from the burning boat.
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UPDATE at 10:55 PM – Bembridge RNLI has issued a statement tonight following the ship’s fire.
“The Relief Lifeboat Tamar All-Weather 16-01 (RNLB Peter and Lesley-Jane Nicholson) was launched at 15:40 at the request of the United Kingdom Coast Guard (Solent) to assist a 38-foot flaming ship with two people on board.
“The first on the scene was Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS). The crew of the independent lifeboat was able to safely remove the two crew members and set up a trailer. they took charge of the trailer and anchored the burning ship.
“The two crew members were then taken to her and taken to Hayling Island (from where they had left early in the day) and left. The Queen’s Harbor Master Portsmouth sent a tugboat to try to extinguish the It was later reported that the ship sank.
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service have shared a video of the fire that engulfed “Fast Flow” this afternoon.
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