Ship fire at Glensanda

SALVAGE workers are continuing to make safe the cargo ship Yeoman Bontrup, which caught fire last Friday while being loaded at Glensanda Quarry, near Oban, on the west coast of Scotland.

According to local news reports, the blaze broke out on the shiploading conveyor at around 3.30pm and then spread to the vessel, setting off an explosion involving on-board gas cylinders.

Because of the quarry’s remote location, emergency services had to travel to the site by barge and RAF helicopter. Specialist maritime firefighters were also called in to help tackle the fire, along with a support tug with fire-fighting capabilities.  

One member of the ship’s crew was taken to Oban Hospital for treatment to injuries which were not thought to be life threatening, while a number of others were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

The 97,000-tonne Yeoman Bontrup is believed to have been extensively damaged by the fire, which took the emergency services more than 24h to bring under control.

Salvage workers were finally able to board the bulk carrier on Saturday evening with the aim of stabilizing the vessel and eliminating any risk of pollution from the heavy fuel oil carried on board.

A joint police and fire investigation is to be conducted into the incident.

As well as the Yeoman Bontrup, Yeoman Glensanda, part of Aggregate Industries, operate a second self-unloading vessel with a carrying capacity of 97,000 tonnes and another with a capacity of 37,000 tonnes.