The 63 foot long fishing vessel Challenger Traveler caught fire near St. John’s, Canada.  The vessel sent out a distress call before the four crew on board donned immersion suits and abandoned ship into the vessel’s life raft.  Two coast guard vessels and nearby fishing vessels responded to the call.  The crew waited two hours before rescuers found them. All four were rescued and returned to port on the fishing vessel Atlantic Bandit.  No report of injuries. 

The fire consumed the Challenger Traveler until it burnt to the water’s edge and the vessel sank.  Authorities stated there was some oil sheen visible where the fishing vessel sank.