On August 10, 2023, about 1705 local time, the rental houseboat Flagship 604 (state number TN 0174 BD 219), with nine people aboard, was docking at the Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee, to refuel, when the bow struck one of the marina’s gasoline fuel pumps, knocking it over. Minutes later, a fire began near the gas dispenser and spread to the marina store and three pontoon boats moored at the marina. One injury was reported; no pollution was reported. The houseboat was not damaged. Damage to the marina and the pontoon vessels was estimated at $1.75 million.
We determined that the probable cause of the contact and subsequent fire at the Sunset Marina was a houseboat’s “duckbill” bow striking a gasoline fuel dispenser (pump) when docking in windy conditions, which caused an undetermined electrical source on the dock to ignite vapors from the broken gasoline fuel line. Contributing to the contact was the proximity of the gas pump to the dock edge.
