Watch: Fire Breaks Out On Oil Platform In Adriatic Sea, 26 Workers Evacuated

A fire broke out on the Rospo Mare B oil platform, located off the coast of Vasto in the Adriatic Sea on January 22, 2025.

The Italian Coast Guard immediately deployed the patrol boat CP878 from Termoli, carrying a firefighting team to the scene as soon as they were notified about the incident.

A commercial supply boat, Shark, also responded to the emergency and helped evacuate 26 workers from the affected platform and nearby facilities. All evacuees were confirmed to be in good health.

The Coast Guard acted swiftly, and the fire was quickly brought under control. Images and videos from the scene showed smoke rising from the platform, but no flames were visible.

La #GuardiaCostiera è impegnata in queste ore in un’operazione complessa a seguito di un incendio divampato sulla piattaforma petrolifera Rospomare B al largo di Vasto nel Mar Adriatico.
Nessun ferito e nessuna traccia di inquinamento in mare. pic.twitter.com/cjeQ6UbmES

— Guardia Costiera (@guardiacostiera) January 22, 2025

The platform’s fixed firefighting system worked very well, supported by fire-fighting resources that were deployed to the site.

Commander Giuseppe Panico, the Captain of the Port, praised the readiness of the platform operator and the Coast Guard. He said that Rospo Mare B has recently participated in a full-scale emergency response training with the Coast Guard.

After the fire was extinguished, a second patrol boat, a fixed-wing aircraft, and a Coast Guard helicopter were deployed to monitor the area for environmental pollution.

However, no signs of pollution were detected in the surrounding waters.

Nelle dell’aereo Manta #GuardiaCostiera le operazioni svolte ieri per l’incendio sulla piattaforma petrolifera Rospomare B. Terminate già ieri le operazioni di estinzione dell’incendio, prosegue l’attività di monitoraggio ambientale
nessuna traccia di inquinamento in mare pic.twitter.com/83iBX6OSD4

— Guardia Costiera (@guardiacostiera) January 23, 2025

The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the area with the help of satellite imagery provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

The Rospo Mare B platform, operated by Energean, has been producing since 1982. The field is situated about 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the coast of Italy’s Abruzzo region in waters that are about 80 meters deep.

The field consists of three platforms (RSMA, RSMB, and RSMC), along with a floating storage and offloading tanker (Alba Marina) to store production temporarily.

The platform handles oil treatment for the field’s entire output, which is then transferred to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit.

References: Italian Coast Guard, Barrons

Source: Maritime Shipping News