Ursa Major
The 46 meter long, 556 dwt towboat Ursa Major caught fire off Gioia Tauro, Italy. The Ursa Major was pushing a barge loaded with miscellaneous cargo from Taranto to Genoa when the fire broke out in the towboat. The crew requested assistance as the Ursa Major had been disabled by the fire and went adrift. Authorities received the distress call and dispatched an Italian coast guard patrol boat to the scene. The patrol boat arrived with firefighters who were able to extinguish the blaze a short time later. No reports of injuries to the 13 crew on board. No reports of pollution released.