Police yet to completely rule out foul play in Darwin city, $8 million boat fire

POLICE continue to investigate the circumstances around a huge fire which destroyed an $8 million boat in Frances Bay and are yet to rule out foul play. SEE THE VIDEOS here

POLICE continue to investigate the circumstances around a fire which destroyed a boat in Frances Bay.

Police were called to Hornibrook’s Wharf at 3.30am Wednesday to reports of explosions and a large commerical boat engulfed in flames.

A 24m commercial vessel at Hornibrook’s Wharf in Frances Bay has gone up in flames in a fire sending choking plumes of smoke across the Darwin CBD.

The fierce blaze produced smoke which set off the fire alarms of nearby hotels and apartment complexes.

Police are not treating the blaze as suspicious but are yet to completely rule it out.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Trent Abbott said they were still receiving information from the public.

The cause of the fire, which destroyed the 24m MV Guru, is yet to be determined.

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“There had been some youths in the area the night before (around 7pm) but police have confirmed this was many hours before the fire and they were not near the site,” A/Sen Sgt Abbott said.

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The boat, owned by Guardian Offshore AU, was destined to leave Darwin on Saturday for Papua New Guinea, where it was to be used for sea bed mapping.

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