Arsonists are being blamed for a fire that damaged the replica of the historic ship Deliverance last night.

Eyewitnesses raised the alarm after spotting flames rearing out of the back of the St. George's landmark.

Firemen in breathing gear went to the scene at Ordnance Island and managed to prevent the blaze spreading. Police were also alerted.

Graham Maddocks, who owned the Deliverance for nine years, said he thought someone had deliberately set fire to the ship since he noticed parts of the rigging were damaged and hanging loose.

He said that a securely fastened lateen sail on the rear of the ship had fallen down meaning it could not have come down without tampering.

"Everyone is keeping closed lip about it," he said. "But this has happened before."

The Fire Service last night could not pinpoint the cause of the blaze. It was today investigating.

The alarm was raised at about 9.30 p.m. by several eyewitnesses, who were on boats or passing by the scene.

The St. George's Volunteer Fire Brigade was the first to arrive. It reported seeing open flames coming from the rear of the ship.

Six vehicles were also dispatched from Clearwater Fire Station.

Bermuda Fire Service spokesman Lt. Dana Lovell said the stern of the boat received the most damage.

"On the top deck there was charring and a section of about 3 ft. by 5 ft. was burned through the deck," he added.

When The Royal Gazette arrived on the scene Deliverance owner Nick Duffy along with Police and firefighters were examining the extent of the damage.

Firefighter Kevin Barnes said flames of about eight feet high in the rear of the ship had to be extinguished.

Mr. Barnes arrived on the scene at about 9.45pm and helped firefighters pump water from the harbour to put out the flames.

"In about five to ten minutes the ship could have caught on fire and burned to the ground," he said.

He added that a glass window in the back of the ship was found broken.

Mr. Maddocks said he hasdput considerable effort into restoring the ship. He explained that kids had got on board and damaged parts of the ship before.

Insp. Clarke Minors said three Police cars and officers carrying fire extinguishers arrived on the scene and helped put out the initial flames.

"The fire began beyond the door in the stern of the ship. There's a patch of charring and damage in the area where the fire was contained," he said.

A Bermuda Harbour Radio spokesman said he spotted flames coming from the historical ship and dispatched the Oceanus, also moored off Ordnance Island, to help in any way possible.

He added that he could see flames rising six or eight feet from the aft mast but that it didn't appear to be spreading very quickly.

The Deliverance, a reconstruction of the original ship that brought the first settlers to Bermuda has been in the square since 1968.