The charred remains of the yacht Sum Girl were fished out of Spanish Point yesterday afternoon.

Contractors removed what was left of the 51ft hull after it caught fire and sank on Tuesday.

Nine fire service vehicles worked for hours to tackle the blaze and smoke from the fire could be seen from both ends of the island.

Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources brought nets, skimmers, and absorbent pads to contain and clean the oil spill from the boat.

Royal Bermuda Regiment Colour Sergeant Leslie Spanswick said the cause of the fire was being investigated but that it was probably an accident.

No one was on board when the yacht caught fire and surrounding boats were moved to prevent them being damaged.

However, parts of the dock, as well as a dinghy and nearby tree, were blackened by the blaze.

Marine Imports, the Ministry of Public Works and a contractor employed by the boat’s owner all helped clean up the harbour.

The pollution was less than expected, but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources stayed focused on “preparing for the worst”, a spokesman said.

The department deployed two booms, a skimmer and other equipment to absorb diesel that leaked from the boat.

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service will assess the boat to try and find out what caused the fire. It will then probably be salvaged for parts and disposed of at the waste management facility by the airport.

A spokesman advised boat owners to purchase absorbent pads and attach them to the bilges of their vessels because boat fires are often caused by the ignition of fumes from the gas tank. The pads can soak up fumes.

Removing what was left of Sum Girl took more than two hours. Although divers secured the wreckage with straps, she collapsed under her own weight when being pulled out of the water. Burnt fibreglass could be seen peeling from her frame.

The owner of the boat was not available for comment.