The 176 meter long ro-ro passenger ferry Stena Spirit caught fire while off Gdynia, Poland. The Stena Spirit was en route to Gdynia from Karlskrona with 550 passengers when a fire broke out on the car deck. The fire started from a truck on the car deck which caused black dense smoke to spread through out the ferry. The passengers were mustered on deck while the crew extinguished the blaze. The Stena Spirit arrived in Gdynia where the local fire brigade boarded the ferry to conduct an investigation. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On August 22, the 44 meter long, 1000 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Kragerø ran aground in Skåtøy Sound near Jomfruland. The Kragerø was headed to Jomfruland when it suffered a technical fault causing the ferry aground. The ferry was later refloated and proceeded to Jomfruland. Divers inspected the hull and found no damage. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
On August 17, the passenger ferry Caribbean Fantasy caught fire near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Fantasy was en route to San Juan from the Dominican Republic with 511 passengers and crew when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room and spread into other sections of the vessel. The passengers and crew evacuated the vessel using emergency slides and rescued by the Coast Guard, tugs and local authorities. Some 24 passengers suffered only minor injuries during the evacuation and were later taken to hospital. The disabled Caribbean Fantasy went adrift and eventually ran aground off Punta Salinas.
Photo: uscg
Firefighting and salvage teams boarded the vessel the following day while authorities placed booms around the hull to contain any pollution. Divers inspected the hull and found the grounding caused no damage to the hull. On August 20, tugs were able to reestablish towlines and refloated the Caribbean Fantasy and towed the ferry into San Juan. Fire fighters were able to enter the engine room and extinguish the remaining part of the fire.
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg
Reports state the Caribbean Fantasy had been cited for 107 deficiencies by Coast Guard inspectors in recent years. One report from 2014, cited the vessel needed additional protection from fuel oil leaking onto hot surfaces.
