MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Container Ship Fire Images

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APL Austria
APL Austria entering Nqura Harbour. Photo: NSRI Port Elizabeth
APL Austria
APL Austria during the early hours of 13 February morning off-shore of Port Elizabeth. Photo: NSRI Port Elizabeth

At 20h30, Sunday, 12th February, NSRI Port Elizabeth and NSRI St Francis Bay duty crews were placed on alert following reports that the Container Ship Motor Vessel APL Austria, with 21 crew onboard, reporting a fire in a forward container hold with the ships crew fighting the fire South West of Cape St Francis were making headway towards the Port of Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, and requesting assistance once closer to Port.

At 00h43, Monday, 13th February, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV and rendezvoused with M/V APL Austria off-shore of the Ngqura Port and NSRI stood-by on-scene for safety while crew of the APL Austria continued to fight the fire onboard.

During the early hours of the morning fire fighting tug boats arrived on the scene assisting to fight the fire and authorities and a fire fighting team boarded the casualty vessel where efforts to fight the fire continued.

4 non-essential crew were taken off the casualty vessel and all 4 crew were transported aboard the sea rescue craft into the Port of Ngqura. One of the crew that had been taken off of the casualty vessel was treated by EC Government Health EMS paramedics for a leg injury and he is in a stable and satisfactory condition. The remaining 3 crew were not injured and there were no reports of injuries sustained to any of the remaining 17 crew onboard.

During the mid morning NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV stood-by on the scene while APL Austria made her way into the Ngqura Port and the casualty vessel was safely docked in the Port of Ngqura where tug boats and fire fighters continued to assist the ships crew with dousing the fire and containing the fire.

NSRI Port Elizabeth were released from the scene during the mid afternoon and the Nelson Mandela Bay Fire and Rescue Services were on stand-by to assist.

NSRI Port Elizabeth remained on alert to assist if required.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.