The crew of 19 was evacuated today from an Indonesia-flagged cargo ship that caught fire some 20 nautical miles north of Surabaya, Indonesia, close to the location of yesterday’s collision between an LPG tanker and a container ship, according to local media.
Local authorities reportedly dispatched two tug boats to assist the crew. The vessel is currently anchored at Buoy No.5 at Karang Jamuang Pilot Station.
The fire reportedly started in the engine room of the 3,000 dwt Meratus Sumbawa 1, and spread to the vessel’s superstructure.
The 1990-built freighter was en route to the port of Maumere, Flores Island, Surabaya. There is currently no information on the type of cargo the vessel was transporting at the time of the incident.
No injuries to the crew have been reported so far. The vessel is still burning, and the efforts to extinguish the fire are ongoing.
Meratus Sembawa 1 is operated by Indonesia’s Meratus Line.
World Maritime News Staff, Image: Meratus Line