Engine Fire Aboard Tanker at Singapore Anchorage

Early on the 21st October, local authorities, including the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), responded to a fire on a tanker shortly after it arrived at the Singapore anchorage. According to reports, all 22 crew members of the product tanker Med Atlantic (26,234 dwt) were safely evacuated, and the fire was swiftly brought under control.

The Med Atlantic, registered in Malta under Sea Tankers 4 and managed out of Istanbul, was tracked via AIS showing it had moved from neighboring Malaysia into the Singapore anchorage earlier in the day. Local authorities received word of a fire, which was believed to have originated in the engine room and spread to the funnel, around 10:30 a.m. local time.

The MPA confirmed that one of its patrol boats was deployed alongside two Police Coast Guard vessels, three marine firefighting and rescue vessels from the SCDF, and two tugboats to provide assistance and ensure navigational safety.

Initially, SCDF responders focused on boundary cooling, using their three fireboats to cool the tanker’s exterior. After taking defensive measures, firefighting teams boarded the vessel, built in 2011, and found no visible signs of fire. To ensure safety, they used water jets to extinguish any remaining heat and began a “damping down” procedure to prevent a potential flare-up.

Though the tanker is still listed as “not under command” on AIS, the crew is safe and has begun assessing the damage. The MPA has cautioned nearby vessels of the situation, but there has been no impact on maritime traffic in the area.

Image credit: Inspenet. All rights reserved.