Tank Blaze in Danish Port Contained

On Wednesday night, a serious fire broke out in the port of Fredericia, Jutland, reportedly involving a tank of coconut oil and a tank of fertilizer. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

The area of the fire also had other chemicals in storage, and authorities were concerned of the risk of explosion, but emergency responders – local firefighters, with assistance from the water cannons of Svitzer tugs Svitzer Mjolner and Svitzer Nari – cooled the tanks and eventually contained the fire.

Two were injured and taken to an emergency room for treatment, but no other casualties were reported. Residents were warned to be especially cautious in the areas near the harbor and to stay indoors and away from windows whenenver possible. Port operator ADP A/S said that it hopes to reopen unaffected portions of the harbor soon.

A similar fire involving coconut oil tanks broke out in the port of Aarhus in 2008, said Danish security expert and lecturer Frank Huess Hedlund.

Separately, in the port of Vasto, Italian media reported the death of a 23-year-old crew member of the product tanker Araz River during tank cleaning, apparently due to fume inhalation. Two others were injured in the incident and hospitalized, and Italian authorities have opened an investigation