A cargo vessel, the Diezeborg, operated by Dutch shipping company Royal Wagenborg, was secured by the Swedish Coast Guard after an engine room fire posed a grounding risk in the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on the evening of February 14, while the ship was sailing northwest of Gotska Sandön. To prevent the vessel from drifting towards the shallow Kopparstenarna area, the Coast Guard connected a towline using its tug, KBV 002 Triton, shortly before 3 AM on February 15.
The crew managed to extinguish the fire, although the engine room sustained damage. Fortunately, all crew members remained on board, and the situation was deemed under control. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and at the time of the incident, the vessel had lost power and was unable to maneuver. A tugboat arranged by the ship’s owner was expected to arrive on February 16.
The Coast Guard initiated a maritime rescue operation to stabilize the ship’s position and mitigate the risk of grounding or an oil spill, particularly given the environmentally sensitive nature of the Gotska Sandön area, which is a national park and Natura 2000 site. Weather conditions during the operation were favorable, with moderate winds and good visibility. The Diezeborg, a 133.41-meter multi-purpose dry cargo carrier built in 2000, was transporting zinc concentrate to Kotka, Finland, and the cargo was confirmed to be securely stowed.
