On 12/01/2023  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was conducting routine patrol in a marked FWC vehicle. I was contacted by FWC dispatch and informed that a vessel was on fire at the Conch Harbor Marina in Key West. I responded to the location at approximately 9:00 PM.
When I arrived I observed Key West Fire Department (KWFD) and Key West Police Department had responded as well. I observed a 60' cabin motor boat at rest against the sea wall. KWFD personnel were actively attempting to extinguish the fire.
I identified the owner of the vessel. Three other individuals were onboard at the time of the accident. I obtained written statements from all 4 individuals.
I then obtained digital images of the vessel. KWFD Fire Marshall escorted me onto the vessel and identified what he believed to be the origin of the electrical fire; The generator room at the stern of the vessel had extensive fire damage. In the main cabin of the vessel I observed a stack of documents. A search of these documents revealed an expired Florida registration which allowed me to identify the vessel as a 60' Riva brand motor yacht. I obtained digital images of the interior of the vessel.
I then returned to the dock and spoke with the vessel owner. OP1 informed me that as he was piloting the vessel around Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park the vessel began to respond poorly to steering input. OP1 stated that as he entered Key West Bight he lost the ability to shift from forward into neutral and reverse. OP1 stated that approached the dock and attempted to slow the vessel by shutting the engines off but the vessel still impacted the sea wall with it's bow. I observed little to no damage to the bow of the vessel not to the sea wall. I estimate that the vessel was traveling at a very slow rate of speed at the time of the impact.
I determine that the proximate cause of the accident was mechanical failure due to an electrical fire in the generator room of the vessel.

Key West Bight/Conch Harbour M
KEY WEST                      