Two seafarers killed in cargoship fire
Fire broke out in engine room of FG Sevil killing two crew members on October 31
The vessel is stationary at Kartal anchorage, near Istanbul, after the harbour master and public prosecutor cancelled its permission to leave
TWO crew members have been killed on board a cargoship off the Turkish coast after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room.
Panama-flagged, 6,647 dwt FG Sevil (IMO: 9548665) was travelling between Yalova to Bulgaria, the Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety (KEGM) said.
The fire broke out at 1000 hrs when the vessel was off Sedef Island, near Istanbul, according to a Lloyd’s List correspondent.
Yalova’dan Bulgaristan’a seyir halindeyken Marmara Denizi Sedef Adası açıklarında makine dairesinde yangın çıkan FG SEVIL isimli 104m boyundaki kuru yük gemisi için, KEGM-4 hızlı tahlisiye botumuz, KURTARMA-7 ve ŞARK Römorkörlerimiz olay yerine ivedilikle yönlendirildi. pic.twitter.com/GLsPnuuwCA
— KEGM (@kiyiemniyet) October 31, 2024
Fast rescue boats were dispatched by KEGM after initial firefighting efforts by the crew failed. The fire was extinguished and the vessel safely anchored in the Kartal anchorage, KEGM said.
Two seafarers, however, were found dead in the engine room after initially being declared missing. Their bodies were transferred from the vessel to a state hospital morgue.
A Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty report said a legal investigation into the incident has been opened by both the harbour master and the public prosecutor. State and class surveyors as well as a hull and machinery expert will investigate the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
FG Sevil’s departure permission has been cancelled by the harbour master and public prosecutor until the investigations are complete, the correspondent said.
The vessel’s owner, FG Group, has been approached for comment.
