One injured after fire ignites on containership in Persian Gulf off UAE

The United Arab Emirates’ National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) has deployed assets and personnel to render assistance to a foreign-flagged container vessel that caught fire while anchored in UAE territorial waters in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, June 6.

The vessel’s crew had requested assistance after a blaze ignited near the stern, the NSRC confirmed via a social media post.

A helicopter evacuated one crewmember who reportedly suffered burn injuries as three tugs worked to contain the fire. The injured individual was later brought to hospital in Abu Dhabi for treatment.

The NSRC provided no details as to the identity of the ship besides its being registered to Panama and its being operated by transport company MSC.

The vessel was at anchor in the Abu Dhabi port of Khalifa when the incident occurred.