Sailing Superyacht Obsession II Destroyed by Fire in Phuket

It is not known what caused the blaze aboard the 34m cruiser.

Thai officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a luxury yacht moored in Phuket’s Chalong Bay on Monday.

The blaze, which completely destroyed the 34-meter sailing superyacht Obsession II, resulted in no reported injuries.

Phuket Marine Office Director Natchapong Pranit informed the Bangkok Post that firefighters initially attempted to use the yacht’s extinguishing equipment but had to abandon the vessel for their safety.

According to an official statement, the Royal Thai Navy dispatched two boats to address the fire, finding the yacht anchored and continuously burning. The crew had gone ashore to buy supplies and was not on board. The fire lasted several hours and was eventually controlled by the Navy ships and two other boats, including a speedboat, that were called in to help.

Although the full damage is still being assessed, photos of the aftermath show the yacht’s mast completely collapsed and the hull severely charred.

Obsession II, designed by Olivier Racoupeau and delivered in 2002 by the French shipyard CIM, was reportedly being used as a charter vessel by Phuket-based firm Selalai at the time of the fire. The yacht can accommodate eight passengers and five crew members.