A major fire broke out Friday morning aboard the Greek-flagged BLUE CARRIER 2 while the vessel was sailing north of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea, prompting a large-scale rescue and firefighting operation.
The fire was reported at approximately 8:57 a.m. while the ship was underway on its scheduled route. According to Attica Ferries, emergency procedures were immediately activated and authorities were notified.
Fire Reportedly Started in Vehicle Garage
Early reports indicate that the blaze began in one of the ship’s vehicle garages. Greek media reported that authorities were examining whether the fire may have started from one of the trucks being transported on board.
The vessel was carrying 166 trucks and 29 passenger vehicles, making the incident particularly significant because of the amount of cargo and fuel potentially involved.
All 29 People Evacuated Safely
There were 29 people aboard the vessel — 28 crew members and one passenger, identified as a truck driver.
All were safely evacuated using the ship’s emergency equipment before being picked up by nearby vessels and transferred toward the island of Tinos. No injuries were reported.
Attica Ferries said everyone aboard was in good health following the evacuation.
Major Emergency Response in the Aegean
Greek authorities launched a substantial response operation after the fire was reported.
The Hellenic Coast Guard deployed patrol boats to the area, while firefighting vessels, tugboats, private ships and nearby commercial vessels also assisted. Two Fire Service helicopters were mobilized as part of the response.
Authorities were also monitoring the situation for possible environmental consequences as crews worked to bring the fire under control.
Dramatic Images From the Sea
Video from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the vessel as emergency crews responded.
Despite the dramatic images, the most important outcome was that everyone aboard was evacuated safely, turning what could have become a much more serious maritime disaster into a successful emergency response.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Sources: Attica Ferries; Hellenic Coast Guard; ERT News; To Vima; ProtoThema; Safety4Sea.
By NJ RADAR Team