Fire destroys and sinks $2 million battlewagon

by Bob Wonders on 20 Sep 2007 Maritimo game fishing plans in temporary setback after fire destroys brand new battlewagon. Maritimo’s all-new 550 battlewagon, only unveiled for the first time at the recent Sydney International Boat Show, has sadly been destroyed and subsequently sunk after a disastrous fire aboard while off Mission Beach, North Queensland.

The $2 million dollar vessel was some 23 nautical miles offshore when skipper ‘Sharky’ Miles and his crew first noticed smoke. One crewman was sent below and immediately accessed the engine room, pronouncing it ‘all clear.’

Further inspection revealed an electrical fire had taken hold in an area within the saloon, involving a television set and entertainment unit.

Unable to gain access to the seat of the fire, Miles recognised that his first responsibility was to the safety of those aboard, three other men and one woman.

He radioed the May Day distress call, sent up flares to alert any nearby vessels and broke out the life jackets.

Due to his quick action and the rapid assitance from nearby vessels all survived the fire without injury.

Maritimo CEO Bill Barry-Cotter took the news of the vessel’s loss calmly.

'These things happen,' he said, 'it amounts to a set back for us with regard to our plans to contest the top game fishing tournaments, but it’s only a temporary bump in the road.

'Importantly, the skipper and crew acted appropriately and all survived without serious injury.

'I have instructed the production team to build another 550 and fit it out to the identical specifications as the lost vessel, and although time will prevent us from entering some of this year’s game tournaments, nothing else has changed,' he added.

Maritimo general manager, Martin Lewis, agreed the boat’s skipper had done the right thing.

'His first reaction was to alert those aboard of the fire and get everyone off as quickly as possible,' he said.

'Although we’re not sure precisely the origins of the electrical fire, we are totally confident that the vessel design and construction techniques employed were in no way to blame.

'We are able to pin point the exact origin of the fire and we are calling in a forensic expert who will examine every square millimetre of its location aboard an identical boat.

'Hopefully that inspection will reveal if anything needs to be done to prevent any similar problem,' he added.

The 17.0 metre vessel was comprehensively insured.

For further information contact Peter Jenkins, telephone (07) 5509 3607.