Stranded & burnt down boat on Point Walter sandbar to be removed by Department of Transport this week

A boat that has been stranded on a Perth sandbar for months and went up in flames last week is finally going to be removed by the Department of Transport.

The boat caught fire in Point Walter just before 3.30am on May 16.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the blaze near the jetty was under control within an hour, though smoke continued to billow from the structure for some time.

Police said the cause of the fire was still to be determined.

The Department of Transport told PerthNow it had locked in plans to remove the abandoned vessel from the sandbank before the fire.

“A contract was awarded last week and it is anticipated the vessel will be removed in the coming week,” the spokesperson said.

“This will be done with the co-operation of the City of Melville and environmental sensitivities will be the priority for this operation.

“The Department of Transport’s maritime environmental emergency response team and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions officers have been monitoring the vessel, and controls have been put in place to ensure that any pollution risks from the fire are minimised.”

The boat, which was once owned by Party Boat Charters and operated as The Deck five years ago, was seen on a mooring just 50m from the sandbank a week before it ran aground.

Party Boat Charters sold the boat to JoJo’s Marina in 2020. It was since spotted in Matilda Bay and the Blackwall Reach area.

The boat was in drydock for two-and-a-half weeks before it was covered in graffiti.

The DoT confirmed it had been in regular contact with the owner.