The explosion in Marina Wendtorf on Sunday evening was so powerful that it could be felt throughout the harbour. "The shock wave spread through the water so that it could still be felt on jetty 2 around 250 metres away," explains Thomas Krüger, operations manager of the harbour master's office, to the Kiel News. The fire brigade received the alarm at 18:51 and deployed to the harbour with two fire engines.
Total loss at the "Kieck ut"
When the emergency services arrived, they found only debris from the sailing yacht "Kieck ut". The explosion had torn the upper deck from the hull, which sank to the bottom of the harbour. The "Kieck ut" was a total loss, according to Krüger. According to the police, the boat caught fire as a result of the explosion, but the water in the harbour extinguished it as far as possible.
There were no injuries. The owners of the yacht had left the same day after spending the night on their yacht the night before. Nobody was injured by flying debris either. The splinters and wreckage were scattered on the surrounding jetties and boats.
Cause still unclear
It is still unclear what caused the explosion on the sailing yacht, which has been moored in Wendtorf since 2024. According to the harbour master, there was no gas cylinder on board. The boat had an electric motor. Andreas Arends, spokesman for the Kiel police department, says that the Plön criminal investigation department has not yet been able to determine the cause. There are also no estimates of the amount of damage.
The fire brigade laid an oil barrier as a precaution and assisted with the clean-up. The operation ended at around 8 pm. The harbour master's office is now in contact with a salvage company to lift the remains of the yacht out of the harbour basin.
Most common causes of fire on board
Fires on board yachts are often caused by the same risk factors as Experts report to YACHT. The pantry is a key source of danger, as carelessness when cooking or old gas systems can quickly lead to fires or explosions. The propulsion system, especially petrol engines, also harbours risks, as leaking fuel lines produce flammable mixtures. The electrical system poses a further risk, especially on older yachts: Unsuitable fuses or corroded cables can cause overheating and fires. Additional hazards, such as unattended candles or cigarettes, increase the risk of fire.
Fire hazards in the pantry:
- Curtains or tea towels catch fire: remove flammable materials from the vicinity of the cooker
- Overheated pans: Never leave the cooker unattended
- Defective gas system: Have the gas system checked regularly by specialists
Fire hazards in the engine compartment:
- Leaking fuel lines: Check regularly for leaks
- Overheated exhaust: Make sure the engine is sufficiently cooled
- Defective electrics: Check cables and connections for damage
Electrical causes of fire:
- Overloaded cables: Only use cables with a sufficient cross-section
- Corroded cables: Replace damaged cables
- Incorrect fuses: Never replace defective fuses with stronger ones
Other fire hazards:
- Unattended candles: extinguish open fires before going to bed
- Cigarettes in bed: only smoke on deck
- Improper storage of fuel: Store petrol cans safely and ventilated
Prevention of fires on board
- Install smoke alarms
- Keep fire extinguishers and fire blankets to hand
- Train the crew in the use of extinguishers
- Create an emergency plan in the event of a fire
- Carry out regular safety checks
