In the afternoon of July 30, the 27-meter Canados M/Y Hooligan caught fire and then later sank in Tallinn Bay, Estonia. There were 10 people on board at the time of the incident but they managed to evacuate to the lifeboat and none were injured, local media Postimees reports.
A nearby vessel noticed they were in need of assistance and took them to the shore. According to ERR News, preliminary information suggests the yacht had a technical malfunction and caught on fire shortly after. She sank at approximately 6:20 p.m. and leaked fuel. The yacht was reportedly carrying fuel — some burned in the fire, some remained in the tank, and it’s unclear how much spilled.
The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and Rescue Board pollution control vessels worked to contain the pollution on July 31. Due to weather conditions and high winds, pollution booms weren’t able to be installed before the night of the incident, ERR News reports. PPA Chief of Operations Tago Trei told ERR News that the strong wind was causing some of the fuel to spill over the booms and some of the pollution may possibly reach the shore, but the area was largely contained by the afternoon of July 31.
A notice from the Estonian Rescue Board said: “On July 30 at 3:39 p.m., the Emergency Center was notified of a boat on fire in Tallinn Bay. Rescuers, the Police and Border Guard Board and the ambulance responded to the incident. Those on board managed to evacuate. Rescuers were engaged in extinguishing operations, but the vessel still sank a few hours later. The ship also leaked fuel, which was contained by anti-pollution booms.”