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Tag: South Africa

APL Austria

APL Austria

APL Austria
Photo: NSRI

On February 13, the 295 meter long, 72807 dwt container ship APL Austria caught fire off Cape St. Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The fire started in the No. 4 hold when something inside a container ignited. The fire spread to adjacent containers spewing out plumes of dense smoke. The crew attempted to put of the blaze as a dozen containers were on fire.

Unable to extinguish the fire, the crew sent out a distress call for assistance to South African authorities. The vessel was instructed to proceed to an anchorage in Algoa Bay. A NSRI lifeboat from Port Elizabeth was launched  while several tugs with a firefighting team were dispatched to the scene. While tugs attempted to contain the blaze by dousing the containers with water, all four non-essential crew members were evacuated off the container ship.  One crewman of the APL Austria had sustained a leg injury and taken to hospital for treatment.

The APL Austria was escorted by the tugs to the Port of Ngqura. There local fire tugs finally extinguished the blaze.  Reports state the APL Austria had hazardous materials on board, but those containers did not catch on fire. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been reported. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Verano

Verano

Verano
Photo: news24.com

On November 6, the 97 meter long, 3535 dwt fish factory ship Verano caught fire while berthed in Cape Town, South Africa. The fire started by welding on the main deck and quickly spread through the decks and superstructure. Some of the 800,000 styrofoam containers on board the Verano caught fire and spewed out a thick flume of toxic smoke. The five crew on board the Verano were able to escape the blaze while local authorities dispatched several teams of fire fighters to the scene. Assisted by local tugs, fire crews were eventually able to contain the blaze, but the fire continued to burn for nearly a week before it could be completely extinguished. The fish factory sustained significant damage and had developed a list to starboard. Booms were placed around the vessel to contain any pollution released. No reports of injuries.


Baratz

Baratz

baratz
Photo: sa-transport.co.za

On November 26, the 29 meter long fishing vessel Baratz became disabled and sank off Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The crayfish boat had suffered engine failure and water ingress in heavy seas with winds reaching 20 knots and swells reaching 5 meters. The Baratz requested assistance with it’s sister ship, Helena Marie coming to her aid.  The Helena Marie attempted to tow the Baratz back to port, but the Baratz flooding caused the vessel to list. The 25 crew on board were forced to abandoned ship into the fishing vessel’s two life rafts before the Baratz sank. The NSRI dispatched a lifeboat which was joined by two helicopters to the scene.  All 25 crew were later rescued.  No reports of injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.