Boat Explosion at Port Melbourne

[Outsider1]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/03/2234496.htm

Two dead, 4 injured in boat blast


http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200711/r200357_766881.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200711/r200357_766889.jpg) Two people have died in the boat blast (file photo)
Map: Port Melbourne 3207 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/maps/map.htm?lat=-37.8362&long=144.9449&caption=Port%20Melbourne%203207) Two people are dead and four people are injured after a boat exploded at Port Melbourne this afternoon.
The blast happened at Pier 35 on Lorimer Street, just before 2pm AEST.
A 46-year-old woman is seriously injured, a 48-year-old man has burns and a 44-year-old woman has burns and fractures.
A 13-year-old boy has been taken to the Royal Children's Hospital with minor injuries, while two other children are also being checked out.
Commander Wayne Garrard from the Fire Brigade says the boat was in a refuelling area when the explosion happened.
"The vessel was filling up and filled up with about 200 litres of unleaded fuel," he said.
"I believe that they may have had problems starting the ignition on the vessel, and after a certain period of time, it appears that there's been an explosion."

[Fish Guts]

was it a sterndrive

[Outsider1]

was it a sterndrive

It was apparently a bay cruiser (Halverson?).

Dave

[Mr__Bean]

According to tonights news coverage the poor bugger just bought the boat this morning.

The 2 dead were his parents in their 60's

What an absolute tradegy........

- Darren

[PinHead]

was it a sterndrive

what difference does it make if it is a sterndrive???

[Splash]

I am very keen to understand how and why it happened..

Splash

[Outsider1]

what difference does it make if it is a sterndrive???

Inboard motor I guess PH? Confined space, fuel vapours etc.

Dave

[PinHead]

Inboard motor I guess PH? Confined space, fuel vapours etc.

Dave

that is different to asking about sterndrive..shaft drives and jets also have inboard motors...felt much safer on my inboard powered boat than I do with current outboard powered boat with regards to fire.

[levinge]

Makes you wonder whether there was a fault in the final fitout of the boat, as he had bought it that day, was it brand new or a secondhand boat. If it was brand new, I guess the manufacturer will be on tender hooks.

Still could have been any number of things to achieve the explosion

Fuel vapour
Faulty fuel tank
breather
Fuel Line
Static charge
fault wiring causing a spark

Sorry state of affairs, I hope those who have been injured, recover quickly

[Skusto]

that is different to asking about sterndrive..shaft drives and jets also have inboard motors...felt much safer on my inboard powered boat than I do with current outboard powered boat with regards to fire.

how so????

[Ron173]

Devastated and numb to just watch the news!

What should have been a happy day turned to tragedy for the poor bloke.

bad that the tv crews filmed him obviously distressed being wheeled away, is there no dignity left??

I feel deeply for those involved here.

Too early to speculate, but it would appear from current reports that it happened as he turned key to try to start.

This would indicate more of an electrical short, rather than the more common static electricity issues of ignition on refuelling.

Always use an earthing strap if available, and run bilge blowers for a good few mins after refuelling before startup.

I'm still stunned at the cruelty of this incident.

Proud son with new boat, proud parents at his success....... all gone in a few seconds.

Very sad, very sad indeed.

I'm sure all our thoughts are with the family concerned.

deeply saddened

Ron

[mod5]

Thanks Ron and thats how we should all view it.

Let the people grieve and the authorities investigate.