'Seafaris' sinks after on board explosion

According to media reports in Australia the 41m Forgacs-built superyacht, Seafaris has sunk off Cape Tribulation after bursting into flames following an on board explosion. Eight guests and eight crewmembers were rescued from the stricken vessel.

Speaking to the Australian Associated Press one of the guests said the vessel was evacuated quickly: “One of the crew knocked on the door and said ‘fire, fire’... We just got organised and got in the raft in the water.” The guests were subsequently rescued by a passing container vessel that responded to a distress call. They were then transferred to Cairns Marina at midday, local time. Nobody was seriously hurt.

The McCloy Group, the holding company that owns Seafaris, has issued a statement confirming that the fire started in the vessel’s engine room. A salvage operation will begin in the coming days.


The vessel, which was designed by Incat Crowther and launched in 2006, had only undergone one minor refit, when she received interior work in the same year, courtesy of FMCA, Brisbane.

Profile links

FORGACS SHIPYARD TOMAGO

Incat Crowther

---

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.