Luxury superyacht burns and sinks in Phuket

Obsession II burns and sinks in Phuket © Unknown

The blaze, which completely destroyed the 34-metre sailing superyacht Obsession II, resulted in no reported injuries. Obsession II, designed by Olivier Racoupeau and delivered in 2002 by the French shipyard CIM, was reportedly being used as a charter vessel by Phuket-based firm Selalai at the time of the fire, although local sources say that the boat has been completely unattended for more than a year.

Phuket Marine Office Director Natchapong Pranit informed the Bangkok Post that firefighters initially attempted to use the yacht’s extinguishing equipment but had to abandon the vessel for their safety. Further sporadic efforts to aim a hose at the conflagration were pathetic, inadequate, and ineffectual.

According to an official statement, the Royal Thai Navy dispatched two boats to address the fire, finding the yacht anchored and continuously burning. The fire lasted several hours during which time the rig collapsed, huge holes appeared in the hull, the boat burnt down to the waterline and eventually sank. The position of the wreck in Chalong Bay is now marked by buoyage at both ends, thanks to the helpful people at the CBS haulout yard.

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