An explosion occurred on June 24 at Shannon Foynes Port in County Limerick, Ireland, injuring two crew members aboard the chemical tanker Bow Hercules. The incident took place around 6:30 p.m. while the crew was conducting routine maintenance near the lifeboat area. The explosion, attributed to a gas cylinder, left one man, aged 40, and another, aged 60, both from the Philippines, with serious injuries.
Emergency services, including gardaí and HSE paramedics, quickly responded. One injured crew member was taken to University Hospital Limerick, while the other was airlifted to Cork University Hospital due to more severe injuries. Local reports indicated that emergency responders were active around the Bow Hercules, although the vessel showed no visible distress.
Shannon Foynes Port Company confirmed the incident and stated that safety checks were underway. Operations at the port were temporarily halted but expected to resume later that night. Investigations into the explosion’s cause are ongoing, with relevant authorities involved. The Bow Hercules, a chemical and oil tanker built in 2017, remains docked as inspections continue.
