The fishing processing vessel Athena caught fire and suffered multiple explosions while at moored at Runavik, Faroe Islands. Coastguard vessels arrived on scene and attempted to extinguish the the fire using water canons. However, much of the superstructure has already been damaged by fire. The Athena was being rebuilt at Runavik from a previous fire off Falmouth on October 2010. No reports of injuries.
The fishing vessel Lai Ching suffered an explosion and fire while fishing in the South Atlantic off the coast of Uruguay. The vessel’s crew of 37 went to the lifeboats and many were rescued by the fishing vessel Hsiang Man Ching. Reports state that 3 men were killed in the explosion with another 4 listed as missing. Another 18 men were injured either by the explosion or fire. The surviving crew of the Lai Ching are being taken to Cape Town, South Africa.
The 27 crewmen of the fishing vessel Daichi Shoei Maru were forced to abandon ship after the vessel caught fire while 500 miles east of Guam. The vessel reported to the Japan Coast Guard that the vessel was on fire and required assistance. The Coast Guard contacted a nearby 17,800 dwt boxship South Islander to aid in the rescue of the fishermen. A Coast Guard aircraft was also deployed and was able to direct the rescue effort. Before the South Islander reached the Daichi Shoei Maru, the crew abandoned ship and went to the life rafts. Moments later, the fishing vessel exploded leaving the Daichi Shoei Maru a burning wreck. Luckily, the South Islander reached the seen shortly afterwards and all 27 crewmen were safely transfered to the freighter. No reports to the cause of the fire.
