Latest: Australian Navy Chief Inspects Fire Damage to HMAS Bundaberg
At just past noon on Monday, an intense fire broke out on board the 186-foot aluminum-hulled patrol vessel, HMAS Bundaberg while undergoing routine maintenance at Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) in Brisbane.
The vessel is operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
The fire deep inside the ship took firefighters roughly five hours to extinguish and resulted in extensive damage throughout the ship. Early indications are that the fire started in the forward part of vessel and made it to the aft section, according to the Australian Navy.
Given the melting point of aluminum is 1220.58 °F and fires such as this one can easily exceed that, it appears likely the ship will be a total loss.
Two civilians were treated for smoke inhalation and one was taken to hospital for observation; all other workforce and Navy personnel were evacuate, according to a Navy statement.
HMAS Bundaberg is one of 14 Austal-built patrol boats rotating through border protection operations including fisheries patrols, and the interception of unauthorized arrivals by sea.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
Importers rushing to ship Chinese goods to the US using a short reprieve from paralyzing tariffs could provide a much-needed boost to global freighters.
The recovery of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's superyacht from the waters off the coast of northern Sicily is expected to begin within the next two weeks to help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea last August.
A Swedish probe found no conclusive evidence to suggest that a Chinese ship had deliberately dragged its anchor to damage two Baltic Sea cables, Sweden's Accident Investigation Authority said on Tuesday, though a separate investigation remains under way.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
