Fire on Doña Mimi Ship Activates Operation in Strait of Magellan

The Punta Arenas Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Punta Arenas) activated an operation due to a fire on board a vessel that was navigating through the Strait of Magellan.

In line with the information released by the Punta Arenas Maritime Governorate, the affected unit is the vessel Doña Mimi, of Chilean flag, 82 meters in length and 13 meters in beam.

"Information about the incident was received by the Bahía Fairway Maritime Radio Station, informing the Operations Department of the Punta Arenas Maritime Governorate. The motor vessel, through its internal systems, controlled the fire, and the ten crew members are in good health," communicated the Maritime Authority.

"Through MRCC Punta Arenas, the presence of vessels in the sector was coordinated to carry out the towing operation to a safe anchorage area, with the barges Biomasa IX and Colchagua responding. The Maritime Authority maintains constant monitoring through the network of lighthouses, maritime radio stations, and established communication systems," it added.

For his part, the Maritime Governor of Punta Arenas, Captain Francisco Arías, commented that "the priority of the operations has been to verify the condition of the ten crew members, maintaining control of the emergency and coordinating, through MRCC Punta Arenas, the various efforts for towing to a safe area by means of barges that were in the vicinity of the area."

The causes of the incident and other background information are under investigation. The Maritime Authority is "coordinating the corresponding efforts for the towing of the motor vessel and the transfer of the crew to a safe area," as specified by the Punta Arenas Maritime Governorate.