Video: Fire Erupts On Controversial Supertanker During Dismantling In Turkey

A fire broke out aboard the decommissioned supertanker Sloug, while it was being dismantled at the Simsekler shipbreaking yard in the Aliağa Port of İzmir, Turkey on July 3, 2025.

The fire started at around 11:00 am, prompting an immediate response from local fire brigades and six fireboats. Thick black smoke billowed from the ship, leading to the evacuation of the vessel and nearby areas of the yard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The firefighting teams both from land and sea, worked tirelessly through the night to bring the flames under control. Cooling efforts on the ship are still underway, as authorities remain cautious due to fears of possible explosions.

Firefighters avoided aerial suppression due to concerns that it might trigger blasts caused by trapped gases or leftover chemicals inside the ship.

The 349 meter long tanker was built in Italy in 1973. It served as a commercial vessel for 16 years before being converted into a floating storage unit off the coast of Libya in 1989.

The vessel continued to operate under the name FSO Sloug until it was decommissioned in 2017. Since then, it has remained unstable and structurally weakened.

ALİAĞA’DA TANKER GEMİSİNDE YANGIN DEVAM EDİYOR

İzmir’in Aliağa ilçesinde hurda gemilerinin geri dönüştürüldüğü gemi söküm bölgesinde, Libya’dan gelen Sloug adlı gemide söküm çalışmaları sırasında başlayan yangın devam ediyor.
Aliağa Gemi Söküm Sahası’nda bulunan Sloug adlı… pic.twitter.com/Aa1SNhDC48

— Radyo Trafik İzmir 102.5 (@radyotrafik35) July 3, 2025

In December 2021, a Turkish maritime company recovered the Sloug after it had drifted off the coast of Libya, towing it for a reported fee of $1.1 million. However, while seeking payment, the company discovered that the vessel had been relocated to Egypt, allegedly using forged documents to offload its chemical contents.

The ship’s arrival in Egypt led to environmental protests. Activists raised concerns about toxic materials on board, forcing the authorities to prevent the ship from remaining in Egyptian waters. As a result, it was rerouted and brought to Turkey.

On February 16, 2023, the Turkish ship dismantling firm Şimşekler purchased the vessel. A week later, on February 23, 2023, the Aliağa Regional Port Authority granted docking permission for the ship at the Aliağa Ship Recycling Zone. Since then, it has remained grounded at the site.

The Sloug has been surrounded by controversy ever since it arrived in Turkey. Environmental groups claimed the vessel was used to store hazardous chemical waste while in Libya and alleged that as much as 6,000 tons of waste was still on board. The recycling company denied those claims, saying the ship was not used as an oil storage unit.

Documents shared by the vessel’s former owner indicated that the tanks had not been vented and there could be dangerous vapor buildup. They also estimated that about 50 tons of residual oil may still be present inside the ship.

Turkey’s Ministry of Environment responded to parliamentary questions by confirming that it had inspected the vessel. The ministry said there was no significant amount of hazardous material other than the essential components of the ship itself.

Gemi Söküm’de Sloug gemisi yanıyor!

Aliağa Gemi Söküm sahasında Şimşekler şantiyesinde bulunan Sloug gemisi saat 11 civarında yanmaya başladı ve halen yangın sürüyor, bir kaç şantiyede çalışma durduruldu. Ölü ya da yaralı olmadığı bilgisi geçildi.
O pic.twitter.com/KhkVdy4FHo

— EGE İŞÇİ BİRLİĞİ (@Egeiscibirligi) July 3, 2025

Photos from the dismantling yard show that the ship’s forward section had already been removed, and large parts of the ship are visibly opened. However, the stern section remains mostly intact.

The risk of leftover substances and explosive vapors made firefighting difficult, as safety crews were ordered to avoid close contact with the structure.

Meanwhile, a union group has called for an investigation into the incident. They stated that dismantling work had been permitted earlier this year only after the vessel was reportedly “cleaned out.”

The union demanded that all operations be suspended until it is confirmed that the worksite is safe for workers and the surrounding environment.

The towing company also took legal action to recover its unpaid fees. The İzmir 5th Commercial Court is now reviewing the case, and it has requested details from the Aliağa Port Authority.

Alongside this, the company filed a criminal complaint with the Aliağa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and reported the issue to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

References: bianet, haberler

Source: Maritime Shipping News