Polar Bear, an expedition yacht that has done plentiful cruising, caught fire yesterday and is likely a total loss. The 102-foot (31.1-meter) megayacht was dry docked at Marine Group Boat Works in Chula Vista, California. Polar Bear was undergoing repairs, according to her owner.
Theowner, Larry Jodsaas, a resident of Minnesota, was not on site when the fire occurred. He told news outlets in the San Diego area that he saw footage of the fire via news websites. The video above is from one such news outlet, the local NBC TV station. “Am I angry? No. Anger is not the right word,” Jodsaas tells the station. “It was my toy, my wonderful, beautiful piece of equipment. I think it’s the most beautiful boat that ever has been built.”
Jodsaas commissioned the steel-hulled Polar Bear from Citadel Yachts and took delivery in 2011. (The photo below is from her launch.) He had previously owned a number of smaller yachts upon which he enjoyed extensive cruising. Polar Bear was envisioned to do similar travels, welcoming his grown children and grandchildren when time would allow. He says the yacht took five years to plan and build. “No matter who looked at it, inside, outside, whatever it was, it was like, ‘Wow. How the hell can you have a boat like that?’” Polar Bear featured cherry joinery throughout, with more than 3,000 square feet of interior relaxation spaces. From 2011 to now, she did what Jodsaas planned. In fact, the yacht spent her first summer in Alaska and cruised this past winter in Costa Rica.
Jodsaas declined to speculate about what might have led to the fire. The cause is still being investigated. Officials did confirm that a welder was aboard Polar Bear when the fire started, but stopped short of declaring a reason for the accident. Regardless, officials believe that Polar Bear is a complete loss, with damages between $15 and $18 million.
We contacted Marine Group Boat Works this morning for comment. No one had anything to add beyond what Todd Roberts, the president, released as a statement yesterday morning around 10am Pacific time. The statement reads:
A fire broke out at approximately 915am onboard a vessel a the Marine Group Chula Vista facility located at 997 G street and Marina drive.
Out of respect for the vessel owner , we are not disclosing the vessel name or owner information.
However, we can confirm that:
– The Fire Department and ambulance are onsite controlling the fire.
– Everyone onsite was safely evacuated
– No serious injuries have reportedly occurred from it.
– Chula Vista Police Department has secured the premises and has controlled access.
– No confirmation of how the fire started. At this time, the fire department is focusing on putting out the fire completely.
Marine Group Boat Works posted the following yesterday afternoon on its Facebook page, too:
A fire broke out at about 9:15 this morning. Everyone was evacuated and has been safely accounted for, and the fire department and the amazing emergency response team (harbor police, police department, medical services) has been working diligently and swiftly to put the fire out. The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time.
We know it sounds quite official, but I hope you’ll understand our focus was to make sure everyone was safe (check) and to provide as much accurate information as possible while respecting the owners, the work that the fire and police department do so well and all other parties involved.
Of course, we’ll certainly update everyone as major updates develop.
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