Port Authority of NSW assisted Fire and Rescue NSW to contain and extinguish a fire which destroyed and sunk three vessels and caused significant damage to a fourth at Spit Bridge Marina in Mosman from the early hours of this morning.
Port Authority deployed four vessels to the site including the firefighting vessel Girawaa to pump up to 16,000 litres of sea water per minute onto the blaze supporting efforts to contain and protect further private vessels and marina infrastructure being impacted.
The Girawaa is Port Authority’s premier multipurpose response vessel, operated by highly experienced and trained crew and can pump the equivalent water capacity of four large fire engines over a distance of up to 90 metres.
Port Authority of NSW Chief Operating Officer John Finch said Port Authority has also deployed two layers of absorbent and containment booms at the site of the fire and around the sunken vessels to contain and absorb pollution and debris to protect the marine environment.
“As the lead combat agency for shipboard fires and marine pollution in port waters, we are liaising closely with the marina operator and the Environment Protection Authority to monitor and manage potential marine pollution and ensure safe vessel salvage, and will continue to assist Transport for NSW Maritime, NSW Police and FRNSW as required,” Mr Finch said.
“Our pollution response vessels, which were also on scene this morning, will continue to patrol the area and ensure potential marine pollution including debris, oil and fuel from the incident is contained and recovered.”
“At this stage all pollution from the incident has been contained and the secondary containment boom was deployed as a precaution only.”
The marina will take the lead on coordinating recovery and salvage of the yachts with the owners and insurers, and further clean-up efforts.
