Two rescued after motor boat fire in The Solent

Two crew were rescued by the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) after their 36-foot motor boat caught fire in The Solent.

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Two crew had a lucky escape after their 36-foot motor boat caught fire in The Solent on 6 November, 2016.

Volunteers with the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) and Portsmouth RNLI Lifeboat were tasked by the UK Coastguard at around 1pm after the skipper of the motor boat issued an emergency radio distress call.

The vessel was located around a mile off Browndown, Gosport by the GAFIRS.

Smoke had filled the cabin of the flybridge vessel.

The two occupants of the boat were transferred to the GAFIRS lifeboat while a member of crew went onboard to investigate.

The 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 tows the stricken motor boat after the fire in the Solent

GAFIRS tows the motor boat back to safety. Credit: GAFIRS

GAFIRS towed the vessel to Camber Dock where the Portsmouth Coastguard Mobile Team and the fire service were waiting.

Firemen used breathing apparatus to investigate the engine bay and discovered the source of the blaze on top of one of the engines.

Once  members of 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.

In total, the rescue lasted three hours.

It was Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service’s 106th incident of the year.