18 Injured After Tanker Explodes in Manila Bay

zoom Eighteen crew members suffered injuries after a product tanker caught fire and exploded in Manila Bay, the Philippines, on Wednesday, December 14, according to local media. The product tanker, identified as the 2012-built M/TKR Reia Faye, was docked near the shore of Bataan and waiting for loading instructions from Petron Bataan Refinery when it reportedly suffered an engine malfunction which caused the fire and the explosion. The tankers engines were reportedly powered-up at the time of the incident. Following the explosion, the ships crew abandoned the vessel by jumping into the sea and were rescued by nearby tugboat operators. They were subsequently transferred to local hospitals where they received medical care for their injuries, ranging from cuts and bruises to second and third degree burns. The fire was reportedly put out by local fire fighters before it spread beyond the ships engine room. The 1,200 dwt Reia Faye sails under the flag of the Philippines and is managed by the local company QEA Marine Services and Trading. World Maritime News Staff