Fire has destroyed a boat moored offshore from Salamander Bay overnight.
Firefighters were called to Soldiers Point Road at 8.00pm on Tuesday to find the 6 metre timber vessel well alight about 20 metres from the shoreline.
An RFS boat was brought in to douse the flames.
No-one was on board at the time.
Efforts to tow the boat ashore and secure booms after the fire was put out were unsuccessful, with the vessel sinking in the process.
Newcastle Fire Command says there is no apparent pollution risk to the environment.
The cause of the fire is not yet determined and it's expected a salvage operation will get under way today.
