- Port officials are calling it an accident after a decommissioned oil tanker caught fire anchored at the Port of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
- There were no reports of injuries or oil pollution, but the smokey fire drew wide attention.
On May 15, 2024, a fire broke out on a decommissioned oil tanker anchored near the Port of Port-of-Spain, reports Safety4sea.
Fire aboard tanker
As local news sources report, the vessel, abandoned in local waters since 2011 and purchased for scrap metal, was undergoing work when a spark ignited residual fuel onboard. Firefighters, aided by the Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Port Authority, battled the blaze for approximately three-and-a-half hours, with assistance from a Port Authority tugboat.
Fortunately, there were no significant oil spills or injuries reported, though the vessel is now 90 percent submerged. The incident, ruled as accidental by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Hutchinson, involved hot works and salvaging activities that led to a fire in the engine compartment, triggering a small explosion and necessitating the evacuation of six workers.
Despite challenges, including detaching a barge attached to the vessel, the fire was successfully extinguished with nearly 100,000 gallons of seawater. The owner of the vessel has been identified.
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Source: Safety4sea
