Tanker Catches Fire in Kiel Canal

Simonsen MH A fire broke out onboard product/chemical tanker Oraness while it was transiting the Kiel Canal in the evening hours of May 16, a representative of the Fire Department Suchsdorf confirmed to World Maritime News. The 79-meter-long vessel, unloaded at the time of the incident, was en route to Brunsbüttel from Aarhus. The fire occurred in the engine room while the 2,600 dwt ship was passing the Levensau High Bridge. The crew raised the alarm and the pilot immediately stopped the ship, mooring on the north side of the canal near Schwartenbek. Following the incident, the vessel traffic in the canal was halted. The crew managed to bring the fire under control with powder extinguishers. Firefighters that arrived at the scene with rafts joined the crew in extinguishing the fire. The blaze was extinguished at 1:00 a.m. on May 17. The 1985-built Oraness, owned by Danish shipping company Simonsen MH, was towed to the Nordhafen where the investigation into the incident was launched. World Maritime News Staff