Fire Erupts Aboard Two LPG Carriers During Illegal STS Transfer Off Bangladesh

A massive fire broke out on two LPG carriers, Captain Nikolas and the B-LPG Sophia, while they were transferring cargo off the coast of Bangladesh on October 13, 2024.

The fire occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, when the Captain Nikolas was anchored near Kutubdia, Chattogram.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy responded immediately, sending seven vessels to help extinguish the fire. 31 crew members jumped into the water to escape the fire, but were safely rescued with no serious injuries reporded.

Per the newspaper New Age Bangladesh, the Captain Nikolas sustained minor damage, but the fire severely damaged the B-LPG Sophia.

The cargo on the Captain Nikolas was misdeclared and actually came from Iran, which is under sanctions, as per the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB).

A terrible fire broke out in an oil tanker in Chittagong.
An oil tanker called ‘Banglar Jyoti’ caught fire at Dolphin Jetty in the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong. Eight fire service units are working to control the fire.#safety #fire #seftyalert #marine #chittagong #cargohold pic.twitter.com/Jirizuc1yZ

— United Marine Engineering & Electrical Works (@marine_wor9861) September 30, 2024

Video Credits: United Marine Engineering & Electrical Works/X

Pole Star records revealed a gap in the ship’s tracking data in mid-September, shortly before it left the Persian Gulf.

Mohd Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority, told The Business Standard that the inspection of the Captain Nikolas found no sign of illegal cargo and that the LPG was loaded in Dubai or Oman.

The Chittagong Port Authority has formed a committee to investigate the fire. The committee’s report must be completed within one week.

Captain Nikolas, a 50,000-dwt LPG carrier built in 1992 and registered in the Cook Islands, has a history of fire safety issues.

It was detained in Hunan, China, in January due to fire protection issues on the cargo deck and was cited again in March for the same violations.

Reference: Baird Maritime

Fire Erupts Aboard Two LPG Carriers During Illegal STS Transfer Off Bangladesh appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News