Disabled Tanker Towed to Marseille After Engine Room Fire

France’s Mediterranean maritime authority successfully completed the tow of a disabled product tanker after it experienced an engine room fire. The decision was made to move the Greek-operated tanker, Kriti Captain, to Marseille for offloading and a survey following the incident. The vessel had docked in Port-la-Nouvelle on January 25 after departing from Augusta, Italy with 25,000 tonnes of diesel fuel bound for France.

On January 25, the captain of the Kriti Captain requested assistance from local authorities to combat a fire in the engine room. 55 firefighters were deployed to locate and extinguish the fire, which was successfully put out by the following morning. Despite the intensity of the fire, no injuries were reported. The tanker, built in 2007 and operated by Avin International of Greece, is registered in Liberia.

The French rescue tug, Abeille Mediterranee, arrived in Port-la-Nouvelle on January 28 and commenced towing the disabled tanker to Marseille on January 29. The regional operational center closely monitored the tow to ensure safety. The next steps involve unloading the tanker’s cargo and conducting a thorough inspection to assess and carry out necessary repairs. The vessel’s secure arrival at the Marseille seaport marks a significant milestone in the ongoing salvage operation.

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