A fire broke out on the German-flagged oil and chemical tanker Annika in the Baltic Sea on Friday.
The 73-meter-long vessel, carrying approximately 640 tons of oil, caught fire northeast of Kühlungsborn, Germany, prompting an extensive rescue and marine firefighting operation.
Update: Crisis Averted: ‘Annika’ Tanker Fire Doused After Baltic Sea Blaze
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Bremen, operated by the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked (DGzRS), coordinated the initial response.
All seven crew members were safely evacuated by the rescue boat WILMA SIKORSKI shortly after 10 a.m. local time.
Multiple assets were deployed to combat the blaze, including the rescue cruiser ARKONA, the offshore recovery tugboat Baltic, and the multi-purpose ship Arkona. Despite ongoing firefighting efforts, the engine room remained on fire throughout the day.
Also read: Owner Options On Oil Tanker Firefighting Foams Running Dry
As of 3:28 p.m., authorities decided to tow the vessel to Rostock for continued firefighting operations. A spokesperson stated, “For operational reasons, the overall operational control has decided to continue firefighting at a berth on land. Rostock was chosen as the berth.”
A 7:32 p.m. update from Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said the fire on the tanker has been largely brought under control and is no longer spreading.
The tanker was being towed to Rostock’s bulk cargo port by two tugboats from a private salvage company for continued firefighting.
The incident occurred in the Bay of Mecklenburg, approximately 4.5 kilometers from the coast. As a precautionary measure, the surrounding sea area and airspace within a 3 nautical mile radius have been closed.
Germany’s Federal Accident Command has assumed overall operational management for further measures. The condition of the ship is being closely monitored and is currently assessed as stable.
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