BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWO crew members and the captain of La Pinta Express are counted as fortunate, having escaped with their lives after the vessel on which they worked exploded into flames.
The 24-foot fiberglass open hull vessel – SKNVibes understands – docked at the Basseterre marina at about 10:30 a.m. after it has completed refueling.
Alphie Hodge, the vessel’s captain, told the media that when the two crew members disembarked to secure it there was a loud explosion followed by black smoke and fire billowed into the atmosphere.
Hodgee said he had just moments to “abandon ship” and was successful in doing so.
“After doing that I contacted 911. And after we got a busy tone somebody got through and the Fire Department got here in a flash.”
When this publication arrived on scene, a unit from the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services Department was observed working assiduously to quell the blaze. And it seemed that with each attempt, the stubborn blaze regained life.
This publication understands that it was eventually extinguished.
And according to Hodge, the vessel – which was fitted with two 200-horsepower Yamaha engines – has an estimated cost of $200 000 and was used to transport crew members to and from the La Pinta.
He counts himself and the other crew members as fortunate, especially since limb and life could have been lost.
The captain also indicated that the vessel is owned by Alexis ‘Straddy’ Hazel and was insured.
