Blaze on Libyan ship at dockyard

No one was injured in a fire yesterday afternoon on board the Libyan passenger ship Garjounis, berthed at Malta Drydocks.

The fire started in the living quarters and spread to nearby cabins. No shipyard employees were on board the vessel, which has been berthed at the 'yard for the past three years. Crew members who were working in the engine room managed to get out of the ship just in time.

A spokesman for the Civil Protection Department said drydocks employees who were working on a crane realised there was a fire on the ship and called for assistance.

The department's launch Garibaldi deployed fire hoses from the seaward side while 12 fire engines were engaged in the four-hour operation from the quay.

The Garjounis has been at the drydocks for extensive repairs but no work is being done on it due to a pending issue with the owners.

A magisterial inquiry was opened.

The investigations are being led by the Cospicua district inspector.