Australia: Engine Room Fire on Bulk Carrier

A blaze in the engine room of the Panama-registered bulk carrier MV Marigold, moored at Port Hedland in Australia, has left three crew members suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. The engine room has now been flooded with fire suppressant, and the vessel is relying on shore power. The two crewmen from Myanmar and the chief engineer from South Korea were treated at a local hospital. 

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators are on their way to the ship and are expected to take several days interviewing crew and shore-based witnesses. A spokesman for ATSB said it appears that the fire started in the turbocharger of one of the generators used for pumping ballast water.

The vessel is operated by Korea Line Corporation.

This is the second major shipping incident in Port Hedland in three weeks: an Indian man lost part of his leg when it got tangled in ropes.