A fire broke out aboard the refrigerated cargo vessel Crystal Asia on 25 March off the coast of South Korea, near Busan.
The fire which was eventually extinguished, resulted in six crew members sustaining injuries, two of whom are reported to be in serious condition. The incident occurred approximately 8 km from the Port of Gamcheon in Busan.
The Crystal Asia had a crew of 23 and two of the most critically injured crew members were airlifted by helicopter to a medical facility in Busan, while the remaining crew were rescued and brought ashore by South Korean authorities via rescue boats.
Furthermore, South Korean media have reported that the vessel’s engine is suspected to be the source of the fire.
The Coast Guard has opened a formal investigation to assess the damage and determine the exact cause of the incident.
