HMCS Protecteur Stranded in Mid-Pacific After Fire

A fire in the engine room of the Canadian warship HMCS Protecteur has left the vessel stranded in the mid-Pacific in heavy seas, according to Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, the commander of the navy's Pacific fleet.

Local media reports that the fire broke out Thursday around 10:20 p.m. PT as the Protecteur was returning from operational duties with nearly 300 on board.

Auchterlonie called the fire significant as the crew battled it over a significant period of time to save the ship. The fire has damaged propulsion equipment, and several people suffered minor injuries.

The vessel had to stop about 630 kilometres northeast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the American destroyer USS Michael Murphy and another ship have been sent to assist.

The Protecteur is one of two auxiliary oil replenishment ships in the Canadian navy, both launched in 1969. The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed.