An explosion occurred aboard a chemical tanker at Shannon Foynes Port in County Limerick, Ireland, on the evening of Tuesday, June 24, 2025, resulting in serious injuries to two crew members.
Dangerous Explosion
An explosion, reportedly caused by a gas cylinder, occurred on the oil/chemical tanker while the crew was conducting routine maintenance near the ship’s lifeboat area. The incident, which took place at Foynes Port in County Limerick, Ireland, resulted in serious injuries to two Filipino crew members, aged in their 40s and 60s.
Emergency services, including Irish police (gardaí), Health Service Executive (HSE) paramedics, fire and rescue teams, and a Cork-based air ambulance, rapidly responded to the scene. One of the injured men was transported by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick, while the more severely injured individual was airlifted to Cork University Hospital.
Local reports indicated a significant emergency response presence, though the vessel itself showed no visible signs of distress in the water. The Cork Air Ambulance, part of the HSE’s National Ambulance Service, landed at the port at approximately 8:15 p.m. and departed shortly after with one of the injured crew members.
Investigation Underway
Following the gas cylinder explosion at Foynes Port, the Shannon Foynes Port Company swiftly confirmed the incident and assured the public that the situation on board the vessel had been made safe.
Port operations, which were temporarily suspended on Tuesday night as a precautionary measure, were expected to resume once necessary safety checks were completed.
The port company also stated that investigations into the cause of the explosion are actively underway, with relevant authorities handling the inquiry. Initial details surrounding the incident were somewhat unclear, but a Garda (Irish police) spokeswoman confirmed their presence at the scene, assisting medical responders and addressing the injuries.
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Source: Marine Insight
