The resolute owner of the Kaikoconut floating bar that was destroyed by fire on Sunday night is to start the rebuilding process imminently.

Glen Hector says there is “no question” that his luxurious party vessel – which attracted hundreds of revellers a week earning a place on numerous tourists’ must-do lists – will be back in business as soon as possible.

The total devastation of the two-level, 175-person catamaran, kitted out with restaurant, waterslides and trampoline, amounts to more than EC$2 million in losses.

“My boat that took me three years to build, and every cent I had, burnt in less than 30 minutes,” Hector said.

The reason for the inferno is “baffling”, he continued, explaining that his team had followed the usual procedure for closing the vessel down for the night, shortly after sunset. No one was on board when the blaze broke out.

“I am 100 percent rebuilding; there is absolutely no question about that. I have insurance but even if I have to rebuild from scratch, I will do it,” Hector said. “I estimate it will take around a year.”

Hector was at home with his three-month-old son when he received two calls from friends who could see flames at Kaikoconut’s location near Valley Church Beach. Hector’s daughter Noemie, who manages the bar and lives close by, went to investigate.

“It was already engulfed in fire. I told her to stay far away. There was EC$35,000 worth of alcohol on board which meant there was a high chance of an explosion,” he said.

Kaikoconut had earned a solid reputation as one of Antigua’s leading excursion companies, and a five-star rating on TripAdvisor, since its launch in January 2024.

“We had got some major cruise ship contracts and 50 confirmed events in the coming months. The day after it burnt down, we had 200 people booked to come. I have already started to refund over EC$120,000 in deposits paid,” Hector said.

The business was also booked to appear at a leading cruise industry event in Miami next month, to showcase its offerings to some of the world’s biggest cruise lines.

Hector, who also built his excursion company Creole Antigua Tours from the ground up more than two decades ago, conceptualised the floating bar many years before work began.

No sooner had he started Kaikoconut’s construction, the Covid pandemic struck. Suddenly, Creole Antigua Tours was forced off the water, crippling his finances.

Still, he persevered through the unexpected loss of income, along with materials shortages and supply chain headaches, to complete his dream.

Hector described completing Kaikoconut as “backbreaking” and the “biggest challenge” of his life.

“I have worked so hard to build up a brand. This year was set to be my best yet thanks to all the events we had booked and the business from the cruise ships,” he said.

The disaster also leaves eight staff currently out of work, with Kaikoconut’s wrecked remains now on the seabed. The insurance company is due to salvage the vessel within the coming days to assess the next steps.

“I have seen the wreck underwater and honestly I don’t know how to feel,” Hector sighed. “But this has been my dream for so many years, and I will never let it die. My kids will have Kaikoconut and their kids after them.”

A statement posted to the company’s Instagram page on Monday described the fire as “truly heartbreaking” and thanked the community for its support, adding: “Your love and encouragement mean more than you know.”