FIRE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AFTER CONTAINER VESSEL DOCKS IN PORT OF NGQURA
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Fire brought under control after container vessel docks in Port of Ngqura
Chaos erupted when a 280m container ship transporting hazardous material, including paint and gas, was forced to dock in Port Elizabeth after a fire broke out on board.
The alarm was raised when the cargo vessel, the APL Austria, made a distress call for assistance to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre shortly before 9pm on Sunday.
The burning ship anchored in Algoa Bay five hours later and, by 11am yesterday, it had been escorted into the Port of Ngqura, where firefighters boarded it.
Shortly before it anchored in Algoa Bay, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and Transnet tugboats responded to the call for assistance, which led to the evacuation of four non-essential personnel, one of whom was slightly injured, from the ship.
At 8.30 last night, the fire was under control.
Municipal firefighters are assisting with the operations.
Before the docking yesterday, smoke could be seen billowing from the ship as three Transnet tugboats sprayed water on the vessel.
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