Cargo Ship Fire Prompts Evacuation Near Mykonos; Incident Under Investigation
A fire broke out on the Greek-flagged cargo ship Blue Carrier 2 north of Mykonos on Friday morning, September 25, forcing all 29 people on board to leave the vessel.
The ship was carrying 166 trucks and 29 cars when the fire started at around 8.57 am local time, according to its operator, Attica Group.
All 28 crew members and one truck driver travelling as a passenger were safely evacuated. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
Greek authorities sent Coast Guard vessels, firefighting boats and tugboats to the area. The fire is still under investigation, and efforts are underway to manage the vessel and prevent possible pollution.
The fire broke out while Blue Carrier 2 was sailing north of Mykonos and east of Andros on its scheduled route.
According to reports, the fire started in a truck parked inside the ship’s No. 4 garage before spreading through the vehicle deck. Explosions were also heard from the garage.
The crew tried to put out the fire using the ship’s firefighting equipment and followed emergency procedures. They also alerted the authorities.
However, the fire could not be brought under control using the ship’s own systems, and the crew requested help.
Authorities are investigating whether a truck may have started the fire. The cause has not been confirmed.
The 29 people on board were evacuated using the ship’s lifeboats and emergency procedures.
They were later picked up by other vessels and taken towards the nearby island of Tinos. All were reported to be in good health.
The rescue operation involved several Coast Guard patrol boats, firefighting vessels, tugboats, private boats and nearby ships.
Two fast firefighting boats were sent from Syros and Lavrio. Two more firefighting vessels travelled from Piraeus.
View this post on Instagram
A Fire Service helicopter was also sent to monitor the situation. Surveillance aircraft provided images to authorities, while specialised Coast Guard personnel were sent to the area as a precaution.
The salvage tug Aigaion Pelagos also set out from Piraeus to help. The vessel is around 70 metres long and has firefighting and salvage equipment.
Attica Group said it had appointed specialised companies to handle the work needed after the fire.
Their tasks include managing the vessel and taking measures to protect the marine environment. The work is being carried out in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The main priority is to manage the ship safely and prevent possible pollution or other environmental damage. Authorities are continuing to monitor the vessel.
Blue Carrier 2 is a Greek-flagged Ro-Ro cargo ship built in 1997. It is approximately 162.5 metres long. Ro-Ro ships carry vehicles that can be driven on and off the vessel.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are continuing their investigation.
References: Greek Reporter, safety4sea
Want to read more?
Check out the full article on the original site