TROPICAL

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Investigation into fire launched

The SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) launched a preliminary investigation into what started a fire that claimed six lives aboard the "Tropical 1" at the Durban port on Feb 14. Outcomes of the preliminary probe were expected only at the end of the week. The vessel started burning in the morning at the Transnet repair dock for scheduled maintenance. It will take at least until the end of this week to determine where the fire started and perhaps what started. The crew of the vessel was interrogated to determine what caused the fire and that the investigation was solely being run the marine authority. The fire was so intense and it spread so quickly, that the sense was that something fuelled the fire, and it was needed to establish what fuelled the fire. The vessel would be a total constructive loss. The three people who were taken to hospital had sustained minor injuries. Report with photo: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-02-21-maritime-safety-authority-wants-answers-after-fatal-durban-ship-blaze/

Six dead in trawler fire

A number of people have been injured and six workers died when the "Troical 1" caught on fire in Durban at the Belfast Road, Bayhead on Feb 14, 2019, at 3.30 p.m. Rescue Care paramedics and other ambulances and fire trucks were mobilized to the dockside scene to contain the blaze and treat the injured. The emergency services included the Portnet Fire Department, Durban Fire Department and Ambulance Services. Rescue Care paramedics on the wharf side assessed 70-80 workers and took three of them to a nearby hospital for further treatment for smoke gas inhalation. Once it was deemed safe all necessary authorities will board the vessel and check for the unaccounted workers. Actually the ship had a significant list to port, and the accomodation area was gutted. Rescuers worked until 2 a.m on Feb 15. to locate the bodies of the missing, none of whom had survived. The trawler was in for repairs at Repair Jetty 2 in the Prince Edward Graving Dock (Durban Dry Dock) since Dec 15, 2018. Reports with photos: https://www.ecr.co.za/news/news/ship-catches-fire-durban-harbour/ https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kwazulu-natal/pics-three-missing-from-durban-harbour-blaze-19304027 https://southlandssun.co.za/105048/breaking-news-ship-fire-durban-harbour/