Shipwreck researcher Cor Born loses vessel to fire

A boat belonging to shipwreck researcher Cor Born was destroyed by a fire at the ZZV marina in Westknollendam, Netherlands. The vessel, a Swedish boat from 1980, was used to locate shipwrecks and downed aircraft from World War II using sonar, sensors, and radar.

The fire spread rapidly, causing mooring ropes to burn through and the vessel to drift toward other boats due to wind. Firefighters utilized a fireboat and long poles to prevent the burning ship from colliding with other vessels. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though Born had recently been on board to run the engine before heading home. The loss includes all specialized equipment used for his research, which has previously involved collaboration with the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).