Two Injured In Bunker Tanker Explosion in Italy

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday September 23, 2016

Two crew sustained injuries from an explosion on the bunker tanker Mercuria at Italy's port of Taranto, local media reports.

A fire resulting from the explosion is said to have been extinguished within ten minutes, and no spills have been reported.

While the cause of the explosion has not been confirmed, it is suspected that gasses collected in a non-ventilated compartment during maintenance works likely led to the explosion and subsequent fire.

Local authorities are said to have detained vessel for further inspection, with an investigation for the root cause of the accident still under way.

The tanker is reported to have been carrying very little cargo at the time of the incident.

The two injured crew members are said to have been transported to hospital for their non-serious injuries, while the rest of the crew, all unharmed, were able to remain onboard the vessel.