Maritime emergency unfolded near Egypt’s southeastern coast when a cargo vessel experienced a fire outbreak in its engine room. The incident occurred approximately 3 nautical miles from the Southeast Hamad platform.
The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources swiftly coordinated a successful firefighting and rescue response, preventing any injuries and securing the vessel away from vital infrastructure and busy shipping lanes.
Rapid Emergency Response Initiated
Upon receiving the distress alert via the Marine Control Room in Gharb, authorities sprang into action. The vessel reported a fire in its engine room while navigating near the Al-Hamad offshore platform, which is operated by the General Petroleum Company. In response, a fleet of specialized marine units from petroleum sector companies was immediately dispatched to the scene.
The firefighting response included:
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Black Panther locomotive
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Ocean Dahab tugboat
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PMS-4 locomotive
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Misr-Gulf 15 locomotive
These units worked in close coordination to contain the blaze and prevent the situation from escalating, especially given the proximity to critical oil and gas infrastructure.
Fire Contained and Vessel Secured
Thanks to the prompt and well-coordinated efforts of the marine teams, the fire was brought under control without any reported injuries to crew or responders. Following successful firefighting operations, the vessel was towed to a designated offshore holding area. This area was specifically chosen to be at a safe distance from essential maritime routes and operational zones to eliminate any residual risk.
The quick and efficient response by Egyptian maritime and petroleum authorities highlights the effectiveness of emergency preparedness in high-risk marine zones. The containment of the engine room fire without harm to personnel or infrastructure underscores the importance of inter-agency coordination and the readiness of specialized marine support units in ensuring safety at sea.
