The Hakuna Matata, a workhorse charter and working fishing boat, caught fire and sank yesterday near Saltus Island in Hamilton Harbour, despite the valiant effort of a Marine and Ports tugboat crew.

Crew members from other boats assisted at the scene after the tugboat nudged the vessel, with two crew, towards the island.

Workers from the Resolute ferry also attended the scene and a message was sent to passengers via WhatsApp at about 8.10am alerting them that there would be a delay of between 20 and 30 minutes to the usual Green Route service that covers Hamilton, Sandys and Southampton.

A further message thanked Department of Marine and Ports staff for “their efforts in assisting with the boat fire on the water”.

It added: “Their prompt response, teamwork and dedication … was greatly appreciated.”

Eyewitness Peter Mason, a journalist from London, told how he saw the boat pass by and catch fire.

There was more drama as a container ship came close to the scene, forcing the Resolute to take evasive action.

Mr Mason, who is holidaying on the island, said: “I am staying at the end of Point Shares Road overlooking the water and was having breakfast on the terrace. One of the men on the boat waved and I waved back and actually thought, ‘That’s a nice boat, I’d like to have a boat like that’.

“When I next looked up, at about 7.33am, I saw the boat about 400 yards farther on, with a lot smoke and flames coming out of it. It was engulfed in smoke.

“Fortunately a ferry ― I think the Resolute ― was near by, and it quickly sprang into action, using its water hose to try to put out the blaze. Another ferry came to help, as well as a police boat, I think, with blue lights, but there was not much either could do, and they just held a watching brief.

“The most dramatic and frightening incident was at 7.54am, when a large container ship came round the corner from the Dockyard direction. It was heading directly to the stricken boat and the ferry, and clearly could neither slow down nor adjust its course by much.

“It looked as if it would crash into both, but at the last minute the ferry was able to get out of the way and it missed the drifting boat by only a matter of yards.”

Mr Mason added: “Eventually a tugboat came along and was able to use a much higher pressure water hose to extinguish the flames. But, it took just over an hour to get the blaze under control while the boat drifted around.

“I presume it was the fuel tank that was burning, as it kept reigniting at various points. Once the blaze was put out, the boat was left at the side of a small island.”

The boat is owned by Hakuna Matata Charters. Spokesman Scott Barnes said in an e-mail that the two people on board escaped serious injury, explaining the had “smoke intake and a burn, but are doing OK”.

Mr Barnes added: “We are grateful to all involved with the help and rescue. Other than that, I’d rather not comment. Just lost my pride and joy.”