Princess Yacht Burns and Sinks in Nelson Bay

A twenty meter Princess motor yacht burned and then sank in Port Stephens Marina, Nelson Bay, New South Wales Australia on 21:30 hours of Monday 25 March.  A dozen fire fighters rushed to the scene, with the yacht later listing to its starboard side and then sinking, with no injuries to any persons happening as the yacht was unattended at the time of the fire.  As the fire was controlled a pollution protection boon was placed around the yacht.  No further damages to other boats and yachts was made, with the fire reported to have started in the engine room.  An investigation is under way to see how the fire started, with a clean and lift up operation being organized.  

The yacht in this fire is a Princess 20M as produced from 1996 to 2002 to a Bernard Olesinski design.  A replacement to the 66, the Princess 20M was replaced by the second generation 65 which came out in the fall of 1998, although the Plymouth boat builder did keep the two yachts in production together for a few years.