Commercial vessel a ‘total loss’ after Monday morning fire at Westport Marina

The commercial fishing vessel Mary Ann L was a total loss after it caught fire on Float 11 at the Westport Marina early Monday morning.

South Beach Regional Fire Authority Chief Dennis Benn said the call came in at 2:45 a.m.; when responders arrived on the scene the vessel was about 5o percent involved in flame.

“A good Samaritan was using a garden hose already on the dock, to protect a boat that was next to the burning vessel,” said Benn. At 02:45 this morning, we were dispatched to a commercial fishing vessel fire, on float 11 in Westport.

Fire crews were able to quickly knock down most of the fire within minutes, but firefighting efforts were hampered by burning fuel and debris covering some of the fire, said Benn.

Some of the hoses and thru hull fittings were damaged by the fire, and the vessel began to take on water, and was in danger of sinking, said Benn, but “The Coast Guard and Port of Grays Harbor were quick to react and were able to stabilize the vessel.”

Benn said the owner is working with the Port of Grays Harbor and the Department of Ecology to have the vessel removed from the marina to lessen any environmental impacts.

The Vessel is a total loss, of nearly $200,000, said Benn. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

COURTESY COAST GUARD STATION GRAYS HARBOR Coast Guard crews from Station Grays Harbor in Westport teamed with personnel from the South Beach Regional Fire Authority and the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office to fight a boat fire at the Westport Marina early Monday morning. According to the Coast Guard personnel on the motor life boat Invincible took initial action on the 3 a.m. fire on the Mary Ann L at Float 11. No further details were immediately available.