A boat named the Final Notice almost put two Two Marine and Ports staff in their final resting place after it caught fire off Hamilton dock yesterday morning.

Ports worker Earlston Thompson said he and colleague Francis Richardson had just refuelled the Boston Whaler when he heard a loud bang.

A shaken Mr. Thompson said: "There was fire all round my feet.

"I was about to jump off. First we tried to get the fire extinguisher which is centrally located but we weren't able to get hold of it."

However the pair were rescued. And the burning 14-foot craft was dragged out to the middle of the harbour after contractor Tim Patton's crew threw their anchor into it.

No one was hurt in the blaze which drew crowds to the shoreline to see what was happening as fire crews reached the burning craft by tug and pumped sea water at it.

Ace employee Mary-Leigh Burnett said: "I have never seen anything like it. We saw white smoke coming out, then it got thicker and blacker."