CYPRUS – Firefighting Teams Respond to Cargo Ship Blaze off Cyprus

A major maritime emergency response was launched in Limassol Bay after a fire broke out in the engine room of the Somali-flagged cargo vessel AFADJA. All 12 crew members were reported safe following the incident.

The incident occurred while the vessel was sailing southeast of Cape Gata, within the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) received a distress notification at approximately 11:40, reporting a fire in the ship’s engine room. The vessel was subsequently located around eight nautical miles southeast of Cape Gata.

In response, the JRCC activated the national emergency response plan, known as “NEARCHOS”, coordinating a search and rescue operation involving multiple maritime and emergency services.

Resources deployed included a helicopter from the Police Air Operations Unit, National Guard Naval Command patrol vessels IOANNIDIS and AMMOCHOSTOS, and the Port and Marine Police speedboat TRIKOMO.

The Fire Service also dispatched its EMAK specialist rescue team, while EDT Offshore provided additional firefighting support through its vessel EDT AETHER, under an existing cooperation agreement with the JRCC.

Working alongside a Port and Marine Police vessel, EDT AETHER assisted in bringing the fire under control and successfully extinguishing the blaze.

All 12 people on board were confirmed safe, with no further casualties reported.

Following the operation, AFADJA was taken under tow and moved to a secure location within Limassol Bay.

Photo credit: Cyprus FAQ. All rights reserved.