Explosion injures three on HK-flagged bulker in Cornwall

An explosion on a Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier has left three crewmembers badly burned while their ship was sailing in the waters off Cornwall in the UK.

The incident on Great Aspiration occurred at 15:15 local time as the ship was 48 kilometres south of Lizard Point on Wednesday, April 17.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) immediately despatched a helicopter to bring the three injured crewmembers, all Chinese nationals, to hospital in Plymouth and then on to specialist burn units in Swansea.

Great Aspiration is presently berthed in Falmouth to allow investigators to make a more accurate assessment of the damage caused by the explosion.

The MCA, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), and the Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a probe into the incident.