Students rescued from burning boat on Port Phillip Bay

Terrified school children have been pulled from a burning boat in a dramatic rescue on Port Phillip Bay on Thursday morning.

Terrified students have been pulled from a burning boat in a dramatic rescue on Port Phillip Bay on Thursday morning. Picture: 3AW

Terrified students have been pulled from a burning boat in a dramatic rescue on Port Phillip Bay on Thursday morning.

Emergency services responded to reports of a boat on fire in waters off Queenscliff about 8.30am.

A Victoria Police spokesman said it is believed the engine bay caught fire

“A ferry and a Parks Victoria vessel were quick to respond a short time later,” he said.

The spokesman said 22 passengers, including school students, were safely evacuated onto the ferry prior to police arrival.

Fortunately, nobody was injured.

“The fire was extinguished and police will tow the boat to shore,” he said.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be determined, but the fire is not being treated as suspicious.”

Searoad Ferries’ said one of their vessels responded to a distressed call.

“Per our protocol, our amazing crew on board responded to this call and, within 6 minutes, assisted the other vessel by safely transporting all on board, including 22 children, to our ferry and back to shore,” they said.

“We are pleased everyone is safe and are immensely proud of our crew and staff, who stood up, took charge, and delivered an amazing outcome.”

Dianne was on the Sorrento Car Ferry when she saw the incident unfold.

“It’s a good outcome, the kids look a bit startled but they’re all in good nick and all have life vests on,” she told 3AW.

The incident adds to a string of school trips gone wrong, and comes within a month of the Herald Sun revealing hundreds of Australian students will not be able to attend space camp in the United States after the company they booked through went into liquidation.

Camberwell High and Star of the Sea College were among some of the Victorian high schools affected by Edu School Tours suddenly collapsing, with dozens of families now $10,000 out of pocket.

Meanwhile, in another school camp failure, Yarra Valley Grammar students fell ill with symptoms of gastro after attending Camp Marysville in February last year.

The mysterious Yarra Valley Grammar virus is suspected to have been brought to a camp by a couple of the year seven students, then spread quickly.

Loreto College was also caught up in a school camp incident in 2022, when the bus they were travelling on rolled down an embankment in Pentland Hills after a collision with a truck. Thirty five people were hurt in the crash including 25 students and 10 adults. The truck driver was charged and the matter remains before the court.