U.S.-Flag Tanker Is Still Burning in Persian Gulf
Every available tug and a specialist fire-fighting team from Europe have been been brought in to douse a fire still blazing on a U.S.-flagged tanker after three days, the owners said Sunday.
The Chesapeake Shipping Co. said in a statement that bad weather was hindering the fight against the blaze, which broke out after an explosion Thursday on the tanker Surf City in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Smoke from the fire could still be seen from the shore 30 miles away.
The explosion, which appeared to have been internal, ignited the highly inflammable naphtha cargo and killed the American captain and first mate.
The U.S. frigate Simpson, which was patrolling nearby, rescued the 23 other crew members from the tanker, and the owners said there was no serious threat of pollution so far.
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