School students rescued after boat fire in Port Phillip Bay

A group of school students has been rescued after a boat caught fire in Port Phillip Bay on Thursday.

A group of school students has been rescued after a boat caught fire in Port Phillip Bay on Thursday.

Police said 22 passengers, including school students, were rescued from a boat in waters off Queenscliff after its engine caught fire about 8.30am.

“Another ferry and a Parks Victoria vessel were quick to respond a short time later,” a police spokeswoman said.

It is understood the Year 9 students were on an excursion on a sightseeing boat, operated by Sea All Dolphin Swims.

All passengers were safely evacuated and no one was injured.

A group on a dolphin sightseeing boat were rescued on Thursday morning after an engine fire.

A Searoad ferry, which has departed from Sorrento at 8am and was headed to Queenscliff, detoured to rescue the passengers.

Searoad chief executive Matt McDonald commended the crew aboard the ferry.

“The quick actions of our crew meant that six minutes from the distress call all 22 passengers were on board the ferry,” Mr McDonald said.

“These waters that we travel in are very dynamic, they’re some of the most treacherous waters in the world.”

The ferry was first on scene before pulling up next to the smaller boat and opening a personnel door on the side, out of which a ladder was lowered and the school kids were pulled aboard.

The ferry was close to the boat when the distress call was made.

“Under maritime law and part of our obligations as a commercial vessel is to respond to vessels in distress,” Mr McDonald said.

“In this instance, the vessel did issue a mayday call and our vessel was the closest vessel and responded to that made a call and so that put the crew into full action.”

The fire, which is not being treated as suspicious, was extinguished, police said.

Emergency services on-board the boat vessel. Picture: Alison Wynd

Diane was on board the ferry in her car when the rescue unfolded.

“The kids look a bit startled but they are all in good nick and they have yellow life vests on,” she told 3AW.

Sea All Dolphin Swims director James Murphy said there was no evidence of flames on the boat.

Sea All Dolphin Swims director James Murphy. Picture: Alison Wynd

“The skipper noticed some smoke coming from the vessel,” Mr Murphy said.

“He then followed his procedures that are set out in our safety management system that are designed to keep people safe at sea.

“He’s followed that to a tee, and that led to clients being boarded on another vessel.”

Mr Murphy said the Searoad ferry was only “moments away”.

“Everyone just fell back on their training,” he said.

“It was a very good result.”

Mr Murphy said the boat was driven back to harbour “under its own power”.

“It was a standard trip, just ended up being very exciting,” he said.

“The kids were all fine, no injuries, no damage to anybody.

“We’re the biggest provider of marine education on the Bellarine Peninsula.”

The ferry continued onto Queenscliff, where all passengers disembarked safety.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Originally published as School students rescued after boat fire in Port Phillip Bay