Shoreline assessments are being carried out in Whakatane today after a boat sank when it burst into flames yesterday.

The PeeJayV was 1km offshore, near the Whakatane River mouth, when smoke was seen coming from the vessel just before 4pm.

The PeeJayV caught fire in sight of the shore yesterday.

All 53 passengers and seven crew were rescued from the boat before it burst into flames.

Three locations are currently being assessed - Coastlands to Whakatane and Rangitaiki river mouths, Otawairere Bay and Ohope beach with Moutohora and Raurima's islands to be checked when the sea conditions are suitable.

Assessment teams, made up of staff from Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Ngati Awa, have located debris from the sunken vessel.

'At this stage, debris has been located covering a 400m area in the lenth on the Opihi coastlands,” says the bay of Plenty regional Council.

'This debris is burnt material that has washed ashore, with no oil or adverse environmental effects evident.”

Reports yesterday were that there was 1400 litres of diesel and about 20 litres of oil on board when the engine room fire started.

'There's a briefing on the wreck and the aftermath this morning,” says Regional Council communications advisor Sue-Ellen Craig.

'No oil debris evident this morning.”

The Maritime Safety Authority is also in Whakatane beginning an investigation into an accident one witness had been reported as being the result of an engine on board the PeeJay exploding.

'We are aware of the witness report,” says Sue-Ellen. 'We will wait till we hear from the transport authority as to what they believe caused it.”