Photos by Dave Funk/Margate City Fire Dept.
UPDATED at 2 p.m.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – Two boats docked at Seaview Harbor Marina on Longport Boulevard were destroyed during the early morning hours Monday, Dec. 16 and sunk into the Great Egg Harbor Bay.
According to Longport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Levon “Lefty” Clayton, the call of a fire came in at 1 a.m. Longport was the first fire department to respond to the scene.
The Egg Harbor Township Volunteer Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fires. Chief Rob Winkler was not available Monday morning to provide information about the fire.
Clayton said the two boats docked at F Dock were fully involved when Longport firefighters arrived at the scene with an engine-pumper, ladder truck and utility vehicle.
“We were there until about 5:30 a.m. Both boats sank,” Clayton said.
A dozen Longport volunteers were joined by firefighters from all five Egg Harbor Township volunteer fire departments – Bargaintown, Cardiff, Farmington, Scullville and West Atlantic City – in fighting the blaze on land and sea, he said. The Margate City Fire Department, Air National Guard and NJ State Marine Police also assisted in fighting the blaze, the cause of which is unknown at this time. The Somers Point Volunteer Fire Department covered the Longport station.
Clayton said the boats were 40- to 50-footers.
The U.S. Coast Guard has responded to the discharge of diesel from the two submerged vessels.
“Our pollution investigators are on-scene and overseeing commercial cleanup operations,” said Chief Petty Officer Christopher Brady, command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay. “Our goal is to ensure safe operations and to help mitigate environmental impacts resulting from the discharge.”
A salvage plan is currently being drafted by the responsible party for approval by the U.S. Coast Guard. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
