Vehicle-transporting vessel towed clear of Mykonos as fire still burns

Firefighting on board the roll-on roll-off (roro) freighter Blue Carrier 2, a pure car and truck carrier, was still under way on Sunday, local media reported, after the vessel was towed away from Mykonos.

The Maritime Executive reported that the ship is now in an area south-west of Tinos, where it is sheltered from the prevailing winds. Local reports indicated that the fire was still burning and that a cargo of chemicals might be feeding it.

AIS data supplied by Pole Star Global showed at least five tugs and other vessels on the scene, either standing by or helping to cool the hull from the outside.

Given the extent of the damage, the vessel may be a total loss, news outlet Cyclades24 reports. Efforts are now focused on keeping the roro stable. It has reportedly taken on a slight list, and video from the scene suggests the fire has burned all the way forward through the superstructure and wheelhouse.

The Hellenic Coast Guard has opened a preliminary investigation into the cause, local media said. News24/7 reported that early inquiries have centred on a truck in the number four vehicle bay, which may have caught fire because of an electrical fault.

According to The Maritime Executive, the fire broke out on Friday morning as the ship sailed north of Mykonos on a voyage from Syros to Samos, carrying 166 trucks and 29 cars. The crew abandoned firefighting after an initial attempt. Twenty-eight crew members and one truck driver were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.

Officials on Samos, which Blue Carrier 2 serves, have been in contact with Greece’s shipping ministry about other ways of delivering special cargoes, News24/7 reported. Blue Carrier 1 will add a stop at Samos from Thursday, while non-hazardous cargo continues to move on the regular ro-pax ferry service.

Built in Japan in 1997, the 162-metre vessel was bought by Greece’s Attica Ferries from CLDN Ferries in July 2023. It had previously operated as the Clementine for Cobelfret Ferries.