A crew member and two firefighters have been taken to hospital after a blaze on a bulker in Belgium.
The HLN website reported that the fire broke out in a scrap cargo on the 64,000-dwt ultramax Lowlands Mimosa (built 2018) at 2200 GMT on Thursday at the port of Ghent.
The crew tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire was too intense.
The fire was only brought under control on Friday morning.
The injured seafarer was treated for smoke inhalation and was later released, while the fire personnel suffered minor injuries.
“During the fire, there was heavy smoke development,” said Anouck Veyt, a spokeswoman for the central fire brigade zone.
“We will probably have to put out the fire for a whole day on Friday. Even then there will still be a lot of smoke. We, therefore, advise everyone to keep windows and doors closed,” she added.
Fire crews will also attempt to remove the scrap from the ship on Friday.
“But we have to take the stability of the ship into account. Water is now also pumped in and out of the boat to keep the balance,” Veyt said.
No detentions on record
The vessel is owned and technically managed by Fukijin Kaiun of Japan.
VesselsValue assesses the bulker as worth $35m.
Clarksons lists the operator as Belgium’s CLdN Cobelfret, which has been contacted for comment.
The ship has protection and indemnity cover from the Japan Ship Owners’ Club.
The Lowlands Mimosa has no port state control detentions on its record.
