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Category: Fire

Radcliffe R Latimer

Radcliffe R Latimer

Radcliffe R Latimer

On the night of August 11, the 225 meter long, 37257 dwt self-unloading bulk carrier Radcliffe R. Latimer (IMO: 7711725) caught fire in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior near Ile Parisienne, Canada. The Radcliffe R. Latimer was headed for Port Daniel, Quebec with a cargo of petroleum coke when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room. The crew was able to quickly extinguish the blaze using the bulk carrier’s CO2 fire suppression system, but the fire left the vessel without power. With the vessel adrift, the Radcliffe R. Latimer requested assistance of a tug. The tug assisted the bulk carrier to an area where it could drop anchor.  The United States Coast Guard had deployed its response boat from Sault Ste. Marie to be on scene to monitor.

Reports state there were no injuries to the 21 crew and no pollution was released. Canadian authorities have taken charge of the salvage plan.

Raffaele Rubatino

Raffaele Rubatino

RAFFAELE RUBATTINO
Photo: shippax.com

On August 10, the 180 meter long ro-ro passenger ferry Raffaele Rubatino (IMO: 9144744) caught fire in the Gulf of Naples some 15 miles off Naples, Italy. The Raffaele Rubatino was on a schedule voyage between Palermo to Naples with 155 passengers and undisclosed number of vehicles when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room. The crew was able to quickly extinguish the blaze, but the fire had damaged the machinery in the engine room.  Unable to navigate the Raffaele Rubatino requested assistance.  Authorities dispatched two tugs to tow the ferry into port while 2 Italian Coast Guard vessels and another ferry were standing by. Authorities had both medical and fire fighting personnel were waiting on the dock when the Raffaele Rubatino finally reached port.

Reports state there were no reports of injuries.

 

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger
Photo: USCG

On the morning of August 1, the 110 foot long tug vessel Sea Ranger sank in the Gulf of Alaska some 130 miles south of Cordova, Alaska. The Sea Ranger contacted the United States Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water and requested assistance.  The Coast Guard responded by sending an HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft from Kodiak with a dewatering pump. The helicopter arrived and able to deliver0 the pump to the crew and returned to back to shore.

Two hours later the Sea Ranger contacted the Coast Guard stating the vessel was in trouble. The tug vessel had suffered a fire in the engine room and the main engine was now inoperative. With no power for the dewatering pumps, the crew of four were unable to stop the water ingress. The Coast Guard deployed a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter along with an HC-130 Super Hercules airplane to assist. The helicopter arrived a few hours later on scene and hoisted all 4 crew members off the Sea Ranger.  The crew were flown to Cordova and found to be in good condition. The tug vessel was last reported to be in sinking condition and was assumed lost.