Classification
- Incident Type: Fire
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MY Siempre |
| Vessel Type | Other |
| Flag State | Malta [MT] |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | 220 |
| LOA (m) | 34.75 |
| Breadth (m) | 7.40 |
| Power (kW) | 1940 |
| Owner/Operator | Black Pepper Yachting Partnership / Private Yacht Group Ltd., UK |
| Year Built | 2010 |
| Crew Size | 4 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2021-09-06 |
| Location | Port of Olbia, Italy |
| Coordinates | 40.9200, 9.5000 |
| Region | Mediterranean Sea |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Vessels Lost | 1 |
| Direct Damage | Constructive total loss of yacht |
Key facts
- The fire began at about 01:28 local time on 6 September 2021 on the open aft deck of MY Siempre.
- Four crew members evacuated by the bow and were rescued by the tender of the neighboring yacht Blue Vision.
- The yacht listed onto its port side during the firefighting response and was declared a constructive total loss.
- No injuries or fatalities were reported.
- The MSIU could not establish the exact ignition point and did not exclude a lithium-ion battery fault or an electrical short circuit in the water-scooter charging socket.
Narrative
Transport Malta MSIU report 13/2022 states that a fire broke out on the open aft deck of the Malta-flagged commercial yacht MY Siempre at about 01:28 local time on 6 September 2021 while the yacht was moored in Olbia, Italy. Four crew members were on board and were asleep in their cabins when the fire alarm alerted them. The chief engineer reached the main deck, saw a large fire on the aft deck, and attempted to fight it with the yacht's fire pump while the other crew members vacated the accommodation through escape hatches at the bow.
The fire spread rapidly. The crew members jumped into the water from the bow and were picked up by Blue Vision's tender at about 01:55. A shore fire brigade arrived at about 01:50 and joined the firefighting effort. By about 07:30, while firefighting was still continuing, Siempre had listed onto its port side. Fire and smoke continued to require intermittent intervention for the following two days. The yacht was declared a constructive total loss and was re-floated on 2 November 2021; parts of the marina were temporarily closed until it was removed. The report records no injuries or fatalities.
The investigation could not establish the exact seat of the fire. Based on observations that the fire developed near the water scooter and on the vessel's battery history, the MSIU hypothesized that a dead lithium-ion battery from the electric hydrofoil or one or both electric surfboards may have developed a fault. The MSIU also did not exclude an electrical short circuit in the water-scooter charging socket, which had reportedly malfunctioned about two weeks before the fire. The report concluded that lithium-ion batteries were either the cause of the fire or a contributing factor to its intensity and spread, but it did not select one confirmed ignition source.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-06 01:28 LT | A fire was detected on the open aft deck while MY Siempre was moored in Olbia. |
| 2021-09-06 01:30 LT | Blue Vision's crew reported the fire to its master and chief officer. |
| 2021-09-06 01:36 LT | Blue Vision's tender went to Siempre's bow to assist with evacuation. |
| 2021-09-06 01:50 LT | The shore fire brigade arrived and joined the firefighting response. |
| 2021-09-06 07:30 LT | Siempre listed onto its port side while firefighting continued. |
| 2021-11-02 | Siempre was re-floated. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion battery involvement | Suspected | The MSIU did not exclude that a faulty or damaged lithium-ion battery caused the fire or contributed to its intensity and spread. |
| Water-scooter charging socket fault | Suspected | The MSIU did not exclude an electrical short circuit in the charging socket, which had reportedly malfunctioned before the fire. |
| Open aft-deck storage of leisure equipment | Confirmed finding | The fire originated on the open aft deck, where leisure equipment and lithium-ion batteries were stored, allowing rapid access to air and combustible materials. |
Investigation
The Transport Malta Marine Safety Investigation Unit investigated the casualty in Safety Investigation Report 13/2022. The report identified the ignition source as unresolved, issued recommendations on lithium-ion battery hazards and handling procedures, and recorded the yacht's constructive total loss.