Fire Extinguished on ‘Britannia Seaways’ Cargo Ship Off Norway

Danish cargo ship ‘Britannia Seaways’, operated by DFDS, caught fire in the North Sea off Norway trapping at least 32 crew members on board on Saturday, November 16, Reuters reports.

The rescue helicopters sent from Norway were not able to lift sailors off the ship due to bad weather conditions, Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre informs.

The fire started in a container on the upper deck of the 11,000 deadweight tonne ship carrying armored vehicles and other military supplies for a military exercise in Norway. The cause of the fire is yet unknown.

Fortunately, firefighters extinguished the fire early on Sunday, 13 hours after it broke out.

According to the officials, the ship’s condition is not bad and it will sail to Bergen under its own power later Sunday. The ship will be joined by a Norwegian navy vessel.

No injuries have been reported.

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World Maritime News Staff, November 17, 2013