A small oil tanker caught fire on Friday after an explosion in the Baltic Sea off the port of Rostock in Germany, and all seven sailors on board were rescued as the fire was declared “largely under control” in the evening.
A strong explosion occurred Friday morning around 9:15 a.m. (7:15 a.m. GMT) and black smoke then escaped from the ship, reported witnesses cited by the local newspaper Ostseezeitung, which indicates that this 73-meter boat, the Annika , refuels ships located at sea.
According to emergency services, the ship is carrying around 640 tonnes of oil.
Early in the morning “Annika’s engine room caught fire while the ship was in Mecklenburg Bay”in northeast Germany, between two towns northwest of Rostock, they said.
The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies reported in the evening that the fire was “largely under control” on the ship, whose situation was judged « stable ».
The emergency services had previously declared their intention “to continue the fight against the fire on land” to Rostock, where the tanker was to be towed.
Upcoming investigation
In a video published online by the Bild daily, a firefighting ship could be seen aiming a powerful jet of water at the tanker, but no more flames or smoke.
The seven sailors on board were picked up by the crew of a rescue boat and brought ashore later today.
“They were taken to hospital as a precaution. Among them are several people who were slightly injured.indicates the Maritime Command.
Emergency services first fought the fire on board the ship, anchored 4.5 kilometers from the coast, using three ships dispatched to the site.
Firefighters were sent from the ports of Rostock and Kiel, in the north of the country, and were able to board the tanker to assess the progress of the fire.
Firefighters from Lübeck, another port city in the region, were also mobilized.
The authorities prohibited access to the maritime zone and airspace within a radius of 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) around the damaged boat.
Asked by AFP about the origins of the incident, a spokesperson for the water protection police of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania indicated that it was still too early to comment.
The investigation can only begin once the extinguishing and rescue operation is completed, he added.