- Emergency Response Controls Fire on Container Vessel in the North Sea.
- The blaze on the Cargo Vessel was Extinguished, and No Injuries were Reported.
- North Sea Fire Under Control, Crew Safe After Swift Response.
A mass-scale emergency operation was launched following a blaze erupting in the engine compartment of a container ship in the North Sea, the Dutch coastguard confirmed. The ship, carrying 19 crew members, was around 56 kilometres (34 miles) off the coast of the Netherlands at the time the incident unfolded, reports Sky News.
Rapid Deployment of Rescue Teams
Lifeboats were launched from Scheveningen and Hook of Holland, and a coastguard helicopter stood ready on a nearby drilling platform, available for evacuations if needed. Two emergency response tugs and an oil response ship were also deployed in the coordinated response.
No Injuries Reported
While local media had initially reported an explosion, this was not confirmed in the official updates of the Dutch coastguard. The crew status has not been updated, but no injuries have been reported by authorities.
Firefighting Efforts and Control Measures
The ship’s captain called in for outside aid, and a fire crew were flown to the scene by helicopter. In accordance with the 3:17 pm local time (2:17 pm UK time) coastguard report, the crew had arrived on site.
By 5:16 pm local time (4:16 pm UK time), authorities stated that firefighters had successfully entered the engine room and extinguished the blaze. The coastguard reported, “The situation is now under control”, and added that “most units” are returning to the mainland.
Vessel Expected to Proceed to Port
The vessel had reportedly departed from Hamburg, Germany, and is now expected to make its way to Rotterdam under its power. A coastguard aircraft monitoring the situation earlier reported that “little to no smoke development can be seen.”
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Source: Sky News
