Empty ferry ablaze in Baltic Sea after explosion

From Keith Moore (link)

A 650-foot ferry was ablaze in the Baltic Sea on Saturday after an explosion on the upper deck, and firefighting ships were spraying the vessel with water to keep it from breaking apart and spilling some 170 tons of fuel, officials said.

There were 249 people aboard who were rescued by six ships that moved in to help after the explosion on the Lisco Gloria around midnight. Three were taken to hospitals by helicopter and another 26 were slightly injured, police said.

German officials and the ferry operator said the blast was not a terror attack, but appeared to have been a technical mishap.

"A terrorist attack can be excluded," said Wolfgang Harlos, a spokesman for Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies in Cuxhaven.

Schleswig-Holstein state police spokesman Stefan Jung added, "the investigation is ongoing, but all indications so far suggest that the cause was a technical problem."

TV footage showed a fire on the top deck, while the decks below appeared to be gutted by the fire.

"People were lucky because it all happened on a major shipping route, that's why the other vessels were quickly on hand to rescue people," said Ulrike Windhoevel, a spokeswoman for Germany's maritime emergencies center.

Authorities allowed the blaze aboard the ship to burn because "there's a possibility it could capsize if we continue," a Danish navy duty commander said. No oil had spilled, he said.

"At the moment there are four ships at the scene, with more on their way. Their primary purpose is an environmental protection service. If there is an oil spill we can cordon off the scene," said the duty commander, who declined to be named in line with Danish military policy.

 

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