Fire Breaks Out In Engine Room Of Motor Tanker At Philippine Port, 2 Injured

Two crew members were injured after a fire broke out in the engine room of tanker Gindara at Balayan Distillery Inc. Port in Calaca City, Batangas, Philippines, on September 30, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Gindara was carrying molasses and had 22 crew members on board. Twenty of them were accounted for and were safe. The other two were injured and taken to hospitals.

One crew member was admitted to Metro Lemery Medical Center for treatment and observation. The other suffered an inhalational injury. He was treated at Metro Calaca Hospital and later left the hospital against medical advice.

The tanker was berthed at the port in Barangay Talisay when the fire started.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported the fire to the authorities. Personnel from Coast Guard Sub-Station Lemery then went to the port with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Calaca City.

Two tugboats, Motor Tugboat Sedar 8 and Motor Tugboat Polaris Queen, also went to the port to help with the firefighting operation.

More Coast Guard personnel were sent from Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, Coast Guard Sub-Station Balayan and Coast Guard Sub-Station Batangas City. The Coast Guard Medical Station-Southern Tagalog also sent personnel to help.

The Maritime Safety Investigation Unit was sent to the vessel to start an initial investigation.

The PCG also sent BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) to the port. The vessel is a 44-metre Multi-Role Response Vessel and was deployed to support the firefighting and response work.

The PCG said there was no visible fire around Gindara’s bridge and superstructure in its latest report. Smoke was still coming from the vessel.

The Coast Guard continued to monitor the situation and worked with the BFP, port authorities, tugboat operators and other agencies involved in the response.

The cause of the fire is still not known. The investigation is continuing.

References: safety4sea, philstar