V1 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN THE ICW APPROACHING COREY CAUSEWAY WHEN SMOKE BECAME EVIDENT FORM THE PORT SIDE VENTS OF THE VESSEL. OPERATOR LEFT THE HELM AND WENT TO THE SALON BELOW TO INVESTIGATE. OPENED THE ENGINE ROOM AND SAW VERY LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES. OPERATOR UTILIZED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EMPTIED THE CONTENTS BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. OPERATOR CONTACTED USCG ON VHF 16 AND EMITTED A MAYDAY. FLAMES BECAME LARGER AND WAS STILL UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. TOW BOAT US WAS NEARBY AND TOOK THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER OFF THE VESSEL AND TO SAFETY. V1 BECAME ENGULFED AND FINALLY EXTINGUISHED BY FIREFIGHTERS IN A FIRE FIGHTING VESSEL. OPERATOR SAID ENGINE WORK HAD RECENTLY BEEN DONE ON THE MOTORS EXHAUST AND MANIFOLD SYSTEM. V1 SANK.
ST PETERSBURG                 