London: The mechanical failure of one of the ship’s engines has been cited as the reason for the outbreak of fire onboard a product tanker in Liverpool today.
The fire was extinguished at around 8am local time, around two hours after Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called to the scene at Canada Dock in Kirkdale on the River Mersey.
The crew were evacuated from the vessel Julia (4,139 dwt, built 2009). The North West Ambulance Service confirmed to Splash that no injuries were sustained.
“The ship’s crew activated a CO2 extinguisher system that suppressed the fire,” said Andy Groom, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s station manager said today. “Firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the ship to determine the source of the fire and check the fire had not spread any further. There was a lot of smoke in the engine room of the ship.
“The ventilation system on the ship helped to clear the smoke from the engine room while firefighters cooled the engine casings with water and made sure the fire was extinguished.”
Five fire appliances from five nearby community fire stations were sent to the scene, plus the search and rescue team.
The Cyprus-flagged Julia is operated by Netherlands-based Seatrend Shipping.
