LPG tanker Navigator Europa caught fire in Houston
The LPG tanker Navigator Europa caught fire during loading of liquid ethylene in Houston, USA. The fire started in compressor room and forced the US Coast Guard to dispatch several firefighting boats to secure the area and suppress the fire. Fortunately the firefighters succeeded to extinguish it for short time and not leaks were detected. The port terminal stopped loading of the ship immediately after the fire was detected and resumed loading operations, just after inspection for the safety of the LPG tanker Navigator Europa. Fortunately during the accident there were no injured people and no water pollution. The investigation for the root cause of the fire is under way.
After detection of the fire on board of LPG tanker Navigator Europa the Houston Ship Channel was closed for safety reasons near Greensport Dock West, between light 164 to light 151. There are currently three ships in the queue at Houston Ship Channel, which were affected by the closure. The shipping channel was reopened after the inspection of the LPG tanker and resume of loading operations. The local authorities are still monitoring the air on the scene from the ethylene that was being transferred.
"The fire was extinguished nearly 90 minutes after it started, but the channel remained closed for nearly another 90 minutes as firefighters monitored the air to ensure no toxic fumes lingered", said the Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class, Andrew Kendrick. "Initially it was a big fire, but it came down pretty quickly", added he
Navigator Europa tanker The LPG tanker Navigator Europa (IMO: 9661807) has overall length of 160.00 m, moulded beam of 25.00 m and maximum draft of 7.00 m. The deadweight of the ship is 17,004 DWT and the gross tonnage is 17,208 GRT. The LPG tanker Navigator Europa was built in 2014 by Jiangnan Shipyard Group in Shanghai, China and managed by UK company Navigator Gas.Posted On:16-Dec-2015
Credits: www.newsmaritime.com |
