A fire that broke out at the Martinez shipyard in Saint-Cyprien in southern France has had devastating consequences, resulting in the destruction of a part-built 35 metre purse seiner.
The fire broke out early on Friday morning and fire crews spent much of the day dealing with the blaze before the site was declared secure.
The new vessel was due to be delivered this spring in time for this year’s tuna season to owners Christophe and Frédéric Fontanet. The newbuild had been intended as a replacement for their 1996-built steel-hulled Chrisderic II, which has already been sold.
They had opted for vacuum-infused construction for its strength and lightness, and the new Bureau Mauric-designed vessel would have been the first new tuna vessel for the French Mediterranean fleet for more than ten years. Construction on the new vessel had been in progress since March last year.
The 35 by 8.50 metre purse seiner was to have a 100 cubic metre carrying capacity in three insulated tanks, accommodation for a crew of twelve, a Caterpillar main engine, Bopp deck equipment and a Hydro Armor deck crane.
The majority of the yard’s 22 staff are now without work now that the €3.50 million order is reported to be beyond salvaging. An investigation has already begun to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been accidental.
