Three people dead, one injured and two missing
Investigations have begun into a series of explosions on a tanker at Fujairah that left three people dead, one injured and two missing.
Some 105 local repair workers and crew were on board the Mercator-managed Aframax ‘Prem Divya’ when welding work created a spark that triggered three explosions last Thursday.
The Vessel was in ballast at the time of the casualty, according to local UAE newspaper, The Nation.
Fujairah port officials said that the vessel had been certified as having been gas free.
Technicians representing both the owners and insurers have arrived in an effort to determine the cause of the incident, Capt Mousa Morad, Fujairah port general manager, told the newspaper.
Half of the 24 crew were transferred to a hotel, while the other half remained on board. The repair workers had left, according to Ishtiaq Ahmed Malik, an official at the vessel’s agency, Blue Sea Shipping Agency, talking to The Nation.
‘Prem Divya’ is to remain at Fujairah until the incident has been fully investigated, a damage assessment has been carried out and compensation paid to the repair companies, plus the repatriation of the dead bodies.
The Aframax arrived at Fujairah on 27th December for a 10-day repair project.
Workers from local companies had arrived on board to check the vessel’s piping and to undertake welding work in the engine room, plus other repair and maintenance work, the newspaper reported.
Source: The Nation
