By Hamish Heard
A YACHT that exploded at Port Melbourne killing two people had been purchased hours earlier from a Williamstown boat yard.
Water Police Senior Constable Lynden Blackley said officers had interviewed the owners of Aussie Boat Sales over the explosion that killed elderly South Melbourne couple Alex and Jenny Elliot.
The couple’s son had taken delivery of Leda II, an 11-metre Halvorsen cabin cruiser, from boat seller’s marina on Williamstown’s The Strand just hours before it exploded while being refuelled on May 3.
Police said the dead couple had been standing at the rear of the timber vessel moored at Pier 35 in Lorimer St when it exploded shortly before 2pm.
A man and his wife, both aged in their 40s, who were standing at the front of the boat were rushed to hospital for treatment to burns and broken bones. A 46-year-old woman who had been standing on the fuel dock was also taken to hospital with a suspected broken wrist and smoke inhalation.
A 13-year-old boy who was standing nearby was also rushed to hospital.
Aussie Boat Sales owner Terry O’Hare refused to comment when asked why the boat had exploded so soon after the new owner took delivery.
Sen Const Blackley said investigators had spoken to Mr O’Hare as part of an investigation to uncover what sparked the disaster.
“We have spoken to (Aussie Boat Sales) as a natural part of our inquiries,” he said.
Sen Const Blackley predicted it would be a “prolonged and complex investigation.
“We have been doing mechanical inspections of the hull but it’s still pretty early,” he said.
The incident has ignited calls for boat sales to be more tightly regulated.
Unlike used car sales, it is not mandatory in Victoria to produce an engineers certificate of safety when transferring ownership of used boats.
Boating Industry Association of Victoria president Gordon Howlett said it was too early to be calling for tighter regulations in the wake of the explostion.
“It’s one of those scenarios where there will be knee jerk reactions with people wanting different regulations in place but whether or not that’s needed, we’ll just have to wait until it’s been fully investigated,” Mr Howlett said.
He said the explosion was a “horrific tragedy”. “They were out doing what the boating industry loves to see people doing which is being out and enjoying boating with their family,” Mr Howlett said.
