Ro-Ro vessel Blue Carrier catches fire north of Mykonos, crew safely evacuated

A major fire broke out aboard the Ro-Ro cargo vessel Blue Carrier while at sea north of the island of Mykonos, Greece, prompting a large-scale emergency response from the Greek authorities on 25 September. All 28 crew members and a passenger evacuated the vessel and are reported safe.

Vessel BLUE CARRIER 2, image credit: Maxi Alonso

According to Greek news media, the fire started in one of the vessel's garages at around 8:57 a.m. local time while Blue Carrier was sailing on a scheduled route to Samos. The vessel was carrying 166 trucks and 29 passenger vehicles at the time.

All the crewmembers and a passenger boarded the vessel's lifeboats, were picked up by passing ships and then transported safely to Tinos with no injuries reported.

Greek Authorities deployed four Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boats, two RAFNAR-type firefighting boats, and two Hellenic Fire Service helicopters at the scene. Additionally, two Coast Guard vessels, two tugboats, one Fire Service vessel, two Coast Guard anti-pollution vessels and a specially equipped rescue ship have been mobilised to extinguish the fire.

The operation is focused on firefighting and preventing potential marine pollution while the nearby ports have placed anti-pollution equipment on standby.

Blue Carrier is a 1997-built vessel sailing under the flag of Greece, owned by Attica Ferries. The vessel measures 162.5 meters in length, 25.64 meters in width and has a gross tonnage of 23,986.