Cargo Ship On Fire Near South Korea’s Jeju Port, 3 Vehicles Burn As Help Arrives

A South Korean cargo ship caught fire while sailing from Jeju to Mokpo, prompting an emergency response by the authorities.

The officials were informed of the fire at around 5:34 PM local time.

The 9,952-ton cargo ship, ‘Goho,’ was 17 km north of Jeju Port, close to the Geomun-dong area of Jeju City at the time of the incident.

The Korean Coast Guard (KCG) sent 4 patrol boats, a helicopter and a special fire response team to help the vessel in distress.

According to reports, the 28 crew members had tried to extinguish the fire before informing authorities but were unsuccessful.

Initial investigation showed it was sailing normally and all onboard systems were also working properly before the fire started.

After the fire was contained, it was revealed that it began in 3 medium-sized trucks with a five-ton capacity.

The exact cause of the fire remains to be ascertained as of now.

The vessel was carrying 127 vehicles, including 86 cargo trucks and 41 passenger cars.

It returned to Jeju Port using its own power at 6:25 PM. As it reached the port, fire brigades were ready to handle the situation.

Firefighters boarded the Goho, and by 6:50 PM, the fire was brought under control.

They also rescued the crew members, and fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Despite this, fire and medical teams established a temporary medical station at Jeju Port for anyone needing medical attention, in case anyone suffered from respiratory issues from inhaling smoke.

Everyone onboard was examined to ensure they were alright and did not have breathing issues.

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers seafarers face while transporting cargo like vehicles, which can cause a big fire.

A catastrophe was avoided, per reports, thanks to the quick response of the Korean Coast Guard and the firefighting teams, which arrived immediately, targeting the main source of fire, which prevented it from spreading further.

An investigation is underway to determine the extent of damage to the trucks and the ship, and also to review the safety procedures.

The authorities stated that a detailed report of the incident will be released in a few days, focusing on the cause, the lesson learnt and how to uphold maritime safety on ships transporting vehicles.

Source: Maritime Shipping News