Government Launches Safety Investigation After Nanny Cay
The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA) has opened a formal safety investigation into a houseboat fire at Nanny Cay Marina on Thursday, 8 January 2026, the government said in a January 13 press release. Local outlets including BVI Platinum, BVI News, VINO and Guavaberry have corroborated the timeline and details reported by MSIRA.
The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA), operating under the Premier’s Office, has launched a formal safety investigation into a fire that badly damaged a privately owned houseboat docked at Nanny Cay Marina on Thursday, 8 January 2026, the government said in a January 13 press release.
Update: BVI Platinum has published matching coverage confirming MSIRA’s probe of the Nanny Cay incident, reinforcing reports from other local outlets. MSIRA identified the vessel as Kelly Jane, a 67-foot aluminium ferry-type craft that had been converted into a houseboat with extensive wooden customisations on deck.
Local reporting has at times spelled the name as Kelly Jayne (BVI News). The authority said the boat, owned by a resident of St. Maarten, had been out of service for several months and was at Nanny Cay in preparation for sea trials, according to the MSIRA release and follow-up reporting by Guavaberry.
Two days before the fire the vessel was occupied while connected to shore power and “no apparent issues” were reported, MSIRA said. On the morning of 8 January marina personnel observed smoke coming from the vessel’s aft section and immediately contacted Husky Salvage & Towing, according to MSIRA and reporting by Guavaberry.
Husky Salvage & Towing responded quickly, removed the burning vessel from the dock area and beached it in a mangrove area by Hannah Bay. MSIRA and local outlets credited that action with significantly reducing the risk the blaze would spread to neighbouring craft and marina infrastructure.
Emergency responders arrived shortly afterward and extinguished the fire. Chief Marine Accident Investigator Jerome Padmore told reporters there were no injuries and no one was on board at the time of the incident. Local reporting and a VINO account of the MSIRA release quoted former owner Kevin Rowlette saying he was alerted to smoke and that the situation escalated rapidly, going from “a little bit of smoke to flames very quickly.” Preliminary scene checks by MSIRA found no immediately visible faults with the shore power connection, but investigators cautioned the condition of onboard batteries, wiring and other electrical equipment has not yet been verified.
Padmore also pointed to the presence of extensive wooden fittings and household furniture aboard the converted ferry as contributing to the severity of the damage. MSIRA has opened the inquiry under the Accident Investigation Regulations and will conduct the investigation in line with the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code.
The authority emphasised the probe is safety-focused and not intended to assign blame or establish liability; its objective is to identify contributing factors and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents. MSIRA has not provided a timeline for the final report. As part of its public safety message, MSIRA reminded vessel owners, operators and marina users to follow basic fire-safety measures: regularly inspect shore power cords, plugs and wiring; install and maintain smoke and heat alarms; ensure fire extinguishers are accessible and in date and that those on board know how to use them; keep engine rooms and machinery spaces clean and free of flammable materials; check shore power connections frequently when connected for extended periods and switch off non-essential circuits; and report any smoke, overheating or electrical faults to marina staff or emergency services immediately.
Reporting on the incident has been carried by the BVI Government release and local outlets BVI Platinum, BVI News, VINO and Guavaberry, which together have provided the timeline, ownership details and on-scene accounts. Photographs published by BVI News show the extent of the damage to the vessel.
MSIRA continues its fact-finding; further updates will be released when investigators have verified electrical and other onboard systems and completed their safety analysis.
Primary source: BVI Government