Grilled donut

Grilled donut

A group hoping for a barbecue on Victoria Harbour got more than it bargained for when fire broke out in their Aqua Donut on November 11.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) reports that the group dialled 000 for help when a barbecue on the hire vessel caught fire.

A brigade spokesperson said: “The group managed to put the fire out with an extinguisher before firefighters arrived.”

“Crews arrived in an MFB fireboat and rescued eight people from the boat attached to mooring in the harbour and brought them back to shore.”

It is understood the craft was towed into position and tied to a mooring.

A spokesperson for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said there was requirement for domestic commercial vessels to be self-propelled.

However, AMSA is investigating the circumstances that led to the incident, which will include the mechanical state of the vessel.

The AMSA spokesperson said: “After being notified of the incident, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority directed the operator of the vessel not to operate the gas equipment on any of their fleet until inspected and certified as safe to the satisfaction of AMSA, Worksafe and the relevant gas authority.”

“AMSA is working with the other agencies and the operator to ensure that their vessels and the gas equipment fitted on them are not used until all parties are satisfied they can be operated without risk to the public.”

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