The Multicat, operated by Tobermory-based company North West Marine, caught fire around 7pm when it was moored on Loch Creran at the Marine Resource Centre pier at Barcaldine, near Oban, but it is unclear how the fire began.

Appin's fire and rescue volunteer unit were the first to arrive, followed by firefighters from Oban, police, coastguard and Oban lifeboat.

Before fire fighters could extinguished the flames, the raging fire had spread onto the neighbouring fish farm boat, Carol Anne, which had been berthed beside the Multicat.

Had the mooring ropes holding the two boats together not burnt through allowing the burning barge to drift away, the Carol Anne would have suffered more damage than just a singed port side.

Holiday maker Colin Wells, from Scunthorpe witnessed the fire.

He told the local weekly newspaper The Oban Times: 'I saw the Multicat catch fire and raised the alarm and soon after that I heard a big bang, followed by this huge plume of smoke.

'We were about 250 metres away but we could feel the heat from it.'

Clyde coastguard is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

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