WATCH: ‘Below Deck’ Tender Boat Catches Fire Near Bora Bora

A transport vessel associated with the reality television series Below Deck caught fire in waters off Mo’orea in French Polynesia on Friday, April 24.

Videos from the scene showed the boat covered in flames, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. No injuries were reported.

According to eyewitness accounts and footage obtained by TMZ, the vessel was burning in open water near Mo’orea.

People at the scene said the fire spread quickly, and the visuals showed most of the boat being taken over by flames.

The vessel was identified as a tender boat. These smaller boats are used to carry passengers between larger yachts and the shore.

While it was not one of the luxury yachts seen on Below Deck, tender vessels are still an important part of yacht operations and are not inexpensive.

The exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed. It is also not clear whether filming for the show was taking place at the time of the incident.

EXCLUSIVE: It was a dramatic day at sea for “Below Deck” when one of the show’s transport vessels caught fire on the open waters … and we have the scary footage. pic.twitter.com/UNRq0X6Use

— TMZ (@TMZ) April 25, 2026

According to IMDb, Below Deck, which premiered in 2013, follows crew members working aboard luxury charter yachts in destinations around the world.

The series has since expanded into multiple spin-offs and remains one of the best-known yachting-focused television franchises.

There are reports and online discussions suggesting that filming for the next season may already be underway.

A recent podcast episode featured Matt Rogers mentioning that his boyfriend, Chief Steward Fraser Olender, had been away filming, although the location was not revealed.

Some viewers believe the upcoming season could be set in Thailand, but there has been no official confirmation.

This is not the first time a fire-related incident has been linked to the franchise. In an earlier season, a small galley fire broke out onboard during cooking, but it was quickly controlled.

As of now, there has been no official update from authorities on the cause of the latest fire, possible damage, or whether any investigation has started.

References: tmz, economictimes