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Ferryboat Catches Fire Anchored 1km Away and Injures Three of Seven Crew Members in São Luís, Capital of Maranhão. The Flames Started Around 1am and Were Only Contained Early in the Morning.
On last Sunday (6), a ferryboat caught fire at Ponta da Espera in São Luís. The vessel was docked at the time of the incident and there were seven crew members on board, three of whom sustained minor injuries.
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According to eyewitness accounts, the fire began around 1am, and the flames were only controlled by the firefighters around dawn. The causes of the fire on the ferryboat are still under investigation, and it will remain out of service until all recovery and inspection work is completed.
According to the State Agency for Urban Mobility and Public Services (MOB), the safety of the ferryboat in São Luís was the responsibility of the Brazilian Navy, through the Port Authority.
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State Agency for Urban Mobility and Public Services Issues Statement on the Fire
According to the statement from the State Agency for Urban Mobility and Public Services (MOB), the ferryboat, with seven crew members from Internacional Marítima, caught fire in the lounges early last Sunday in São Luís.
The MOB also points out that the safety of the vessel is the responsibility of the Brazilian Navy and that it has already contacted the agency to assist in clarifying the reasons for the accident. The minimum timeframe given by the MOB for the resumption of ferryboat operations is six months.
The Military Fire Department reported that the ferryboat with seven crew members was anchored about 1km away and was not operating at the time of the accident. Two of the three victims were taken to the hospital before the firefighters arrived, and the third refused medical assistance.
Other Incidents with Vessels This Year
In May, another vessel also caught fire, causing significantly more damage than the incident in São Luís. We are referring to theMV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying various chemicals.
The ship that caught fire off the west coast of Sri Lanka began to sink when the flames, which lasted 13 days, had already been contained, specifically during towing away from the coast.
The crew consisted of Chinese, Indian, Filipino, and Russian members, and thankfully only two were injured while the rest emerged unscathed from the situation. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but everything points to a reaction with the chemicals, which were highly flammable.
