SINGAPORE: A fire broke out on the Malta-flagged MED ATLANTIC in the engine room while it was within Singapore waters in the East Johor Straits at approximately 10:30am on Monday. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) promptly responded to the incident after being alerted.
Upon the alert, an array of emergency response vessels was deployed, including an MPA patrol craft, two Police Coast Guard craft, three Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) marine firefighting and rescue vessels, as well as two tug boats. SCDF reported that about 30 marine firefighting specialists from Brani Marine and West Coast Marine fire stations were involved in the operation.
“Upon arrival, SCDF used a water monitor to cool the exterior of the vessel, this helps to reduce the temperature of the vessel’s metal structure,” stated SCDF in a Facebook post at about 2:30pm.
MPA confirmed that all 22 crew members onboard the tanker have been safely disembarked without any injuries, and the vessel is currently anchored. There has been no disruption to vessel traffic in the area, with MPA issuing navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels to steer clear of the incident area.
“The Singapore Food Agency is monitoring the situation closely and has advised fish farms in the area to take the necessary precautionary measures,” according to MPA.
In an update provided by SCDF on Monday night, it was disclosed that the fire involved the vessel’s exhaust funnel, though the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Damping down operations are ongoing, as mentioned in the SCDF’s Facebook post around 9pm, aiming to prevent any rekindling of the fire by wetting the burnt surfaces with water.
