A TANKER and small cargoship anchored in Yeosu, a southern coastal city in South Korea, caught fire over the weekend, resulting in one death and two injuries.

According to the Yeosu Coast Guard, the fire broke out on board the 2,692 tonne tanker and the cargo vessel at around 0100 hrs local time, August 16. The blaze was brought under control after seven hours.

Reports indicate that the tanker had departed at around 2000 hrs the previous evening carrying export products, remained at a temporary anchorage, and caught fire after the cargo ship moored alongside it caught fire.

The tanker was carrying about 2,500 tonnes of toxic chemicals and 100 tonnes of fuel oil. Due to the high risk of explosion, the coastguard conducted a thorough risk assessment and deployed 15 vessels and a fireboat in a joint operation with fire authorities.

All 18 crew members — 14 from the tanker and four from the cargo ship — were rescued shortly after the fire began. However, the death of the cargoship’s master, a man in his 50s, was later confirmed.

A Myanmar national in his 30s from the tanker was seriously injured, while another Myanmar crew member in his 20s sustained minor injuries.

The coastguard declined to identify the involved ships when approached by Lloyd’s List, but said it was still investigating the origin and cause of the fire and is taking measures to prevent secondary damage.