Tanker burns off the German Baltic Sea coast – rescue operation

Rescue operation
Chemical tanker burns in German Baltic Sea

The tanker burning on the Baltic Sea "Annika" 2022

The tanker “Annika” burning on the Baltic Sea in 2022

© Robert Grahn / Euroluftbild / Picture Alliance

Black smoke on the Baltic Sea coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A tanker caught fire there. Rescue and recovery forces are on a large scale on the “Annika”.

This article will be continually updated.

An oil and chemical tanker caught fire off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Friday. This was announced by the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People (DGzRS). Seven crew members of the “Annika” were brought to safety in the rescue boat “Wilma Sikorski”. There is currently no information available about her health status.

Tanker on fire off the German Baltic Sea coast

According to information, several rescue ships, including a deep-sea rescue tug, have arrived at the scene of the accident. “There are numerous other vehicles and several helicopters on the way,” say the sea rescue workers. The federal emergency command is leading the operation. Firefighting has begun, the ship is at anchor and is also being held in position by a tug.

The accident occurred about eight kilometers northeast of the holiday resort of Kühlungsborn. According to the DGzRS, black clouds of smoke are visible all the way to the coast. Eyewitnesses reported to the “Ostsee-Zeitung” about a deflagration or explosion on board. The cause of the fire is still unclear. There is also no information yet on possible effects on the environment.

According to the accident command, there are around 640 tons of oil in the hull of the “Annika,” which was built in 2012. The tanks are almost empty. According to the ship tracking service “Marinetraffic,” the 73-meter-long ship left the Rostock harbor in the morning. It sails under the German flag.

Just last month there was an exercise by the rescue organizations in the Bay of Mecklenburg, during which the scenario of a fire on board and the rescue of sailors were trained.

Sources: DGzRS, Federal Emergency Command, “Baltic Sea Newspaper”, “Marine Traffic”news agencies DPA and AFP

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