A Blue Star Ferries vehicle ferry caught fire off the Greek island of Mykonos on Friday, with all 29 people on board rescued from the burning vessel.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the Greek-flagged roll-on, roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry as it sailed in waters near Mykonos. The Hellenic Coast Guard and nearby vessels assisted in the evacuation of the 29 people aboard.
All passengers and crew brought to safety
The 23,986-gt Blue Carrier 2, part of Blue Star Ferries' fleet, was later abandoned once the 28 crew members and one passenger, a truck driver, were brought to safety, Attica Ferries said. The company, which forms part of Attica Group, Greece's largest ferry owner, confirmed that all people on board the vessel are safe.
No information has been released over what caused the blaze, according to reports by Riviera. Attica Ferries said in a statement that the evacuation was "organised" using "onboard means".
Vessel relocated as fire continues
The Panhellenic Seamen's Union, a Greek seafarer's union, said in a social media post that the still-burning vessel is being relocated by coast guard vessels to the port of Tinos. It said the "fire on the vessel remains out of control" and an advanced fire-fighting tugboat is assisting the relocation.
The union also claimed that cargo on board the ship includes "many trucks carrying flammable materials such as fuel, oxygen and chemicals". Sources from the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy said an operational coordination conference call was made to "manage and respond to the fire".
Attica Ferries has also reported it has organised "specialised companies" to salvage the burned wreckage and undertake environmental protection in collaboration with local authorities.
