The BSU has issued investigation report regarding an incident in which there was serious engine damage followed by fire on board the container vessel THETIS D in the Kiel Bight.
The vessel, flying the flag of Liberia, was en route from Gdynia, Poland to Bremerhaven, Germany, when the damage became apparent on the morning of 26 October 2015. The main engine was stopped automatically. One cylinder’s running gear was completely destroyed. A large amount of lubricating oil leaked, which ignited. This was followed by a fire in the engine room.
At this point, the THETIS D was on the Kiel-Baltic Sea route about 5.6 nm north-east of Kiel Lighthouse. The fire in the engine roomextinguised automatically after airtight integrity was established. The THETIS D proceeded not under command to the port of Kiel Ostuferhafen with the support of two tugs.
Nobody came to physical harm due to the accident, nor was there any environmental pollution.
During the legal comment period on the draft report, the BSU was provided with information that requires a revaluation of the cause of accident as well as a re-analysis of the accident. Hence, the time limit of one year set by the European Union and implemented into navigational law by the Federal Republic Germany, to publish an investigation report after a very serious marine casualty has occured, cannot be satisfied. The public is informed of the current status of the investigation by issuing the following Interim Investigation Report.
Source & Image credit: BSU