Authorities are currently investigating the origins of a fire that caused significant damage to a luxurious yacht docked in Chalong Bay on Monday afternoon.
The 34.2-meter sailing yacht, Obsession II, saw its mast collapse as a result of the fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Upon being notified around 3 p.m., the Royal Thai Navy dispatched two vessels, Tor 111 and Tor 272, to the site of the occurrence. Upon arrival, it was observed that the Obsession II, which was anchored and unmanned, was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters battled the blaze for three and a half hours before managing to bring it under control. At the time of the fire, there were no crew members present on the yacht as they had disembarked to procure provisions.
Phuket’s marine office director, Natchapong Pranit, mentioned that initial efforts to utilize onboard firefighting equipment were abandoned for safety reasons, prompting the navy’s intervention. Additional boats, including a speedboat, also offered assistance in the fire-fighting operation at the scene.
Assessments to determine the complete extent of the damage are still ongoing.
Obsession II, originally commissioned in 2002 as a flagship vessel from the French yard CIM, was reportedly being utilized as a charter vessel when the incident occurred. With the capacity to accommodate eight passengers and five crew members, the yacht is managed by Selalai, a Phuket-based company.
