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Category: Fire

W Sapphire

W Sapphire

W Sapphire
Photo: facebook

On August 18, the 229 meter long, 81681 dwt bulk carrier W Sapphire (IMO: 9605645) suffered an explosion on the Patapsco River off Baltimore harbor, Maryland. The W Sapphire had completed loading a cargo of coal and had just left the CSX Coal Dock when there was an explosion in the forward cargo hold. After the explosion, there was a large plume of smoke resulting from a fire. The bulk carrier sustained hull damage, but remained afloat.  The Baltimore fire department dispatched firefighters and fireboats to the scene.  Reports state the fire was under control by closing the vessel’s hatches, but the fireboats remained on scene. Tugboats assisted the bulk carrier to a nearby anchorage where the vessel could be inspected.

Reports state all 23 crew on board the W Sapphire were uninjured. The United States Coast Guard has detained the vessel.  The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. There was some speculation that explosion was caused by coal dust, but there has been no confirmation from authorities.  Some news accounts suggest the explosion was in the vessel’s engine room, but video captured of the incident makes that most unlikely.

 

Maly

Maly

Yeosu Tanker Fire
Photo: Yeosu Coast Guard

On the early morning of August 16, the 91.7 meter long, 3842 dwt tanker Maly (IMO: 9301691) and a 24 ton cargo vessel caught fire in the Sea of Japan while moored off Yeosu, South Korea. The Maly was loaded with 2,500 tons of a hazardous chemicals categorized as C5 along with 100 tons of fuel oil when a fire broke out.  The blaze quickly spread to the smaller moored cargo vessel.  The Coast Guard mobilized 15 vessels and one fireboat to fight the fire. Reports state the Coast Guard was able to extinguish the blaze on the cargo vessel within a few hours, but it would take 6 hours before the fire would be extinguished on the tanker.

Reports state that all 14 crew were rescued off the Maly, but 2 crew suffered minor injuries.  One of the 4 crew members on the cargo vessel perished during the incident.

The South Korean Coast Guard has not disclosed the name of the cargo vessel. Reports state the Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident and the extent of damage caused by the fire.

Megastar

Megastar

Megastar
Photo: helsinkitimes.fi

Just after midnight on August 12, the 212 meter long, 6080 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Megastar (IMO: 9773064) caught fire in the Gulf of Finland near Helsinki, Finland. The Megastar was just minutes away from berthing in Helsinki when the crew was alerted of a fire on the vehicle deck. The crew discovered that a bus had caught fire and quickly activated the vessel’s sprinkler system which extinguished the blaze.  No reports of injuries to the passengers or crew on board.

Megastar
Photo: yle.fi

Authorities state the bus was removed off the Megastar. The fire did not result in damaging the ferry. Reports state the ferry was back in service the following day on its regular schedule.