The high speed ferry Wahana Empat suffered an explosion just shortly after leaving port off Senggigi, Lambok, Indonesia. The ferry was loaded with 129 passengers bound for Bali and reached 10 miles off the port of Senggigi when the blast occurred. Some 19 people were injured with some with broken bones. All on board were safely evacuated by authorities to Senggigi. The cause of the explosion was not yet known.
On January 24, the 55 meter long general cargo vessel Mentari Pratama caught fire while berthed in Surabaya, Indonesia. The vessel was docked at a repair yard when a welder’s gas cylinder exploded. Three men were injured and taken to hospital for burns. Local fire fighters were able to bring the resulting blaze under control an hour later. Part of the Mentari Pratama’s superstructure was scorched by the fire.
The 90 meter long, 4577 dwt tanker Run Guang 9 caught fire and exploded off Zhanjiang, China. The Run Guang 9 was en route to Zhanjiang from Zhuhai in ballast when one of the tanks caught fire and exploded. Twelve of the 14 crew on board were rescued with 3 sustaining injuries. Zhanjiang authorities were able to extinguish the blaze on the run Guang 9 and take control of the vessel. Two crew members were reported as missing and rescuers were still searching the vessel and the nearby area.