What Crew Members Say About Navigator-Europa

The Houston Ship Channel has officially reopened as of December 14, 2015, after a nearly three-hour closure caused by a fire aboard the 'Navigator Europa', which was docked outside the Targa LPG export terminal. The fire broke out during the tanker’s operation of loading ethylene and was successfully extinguished approximately 90 minutes later. However, the channel remained closed for an additional 90 minutes while firefighters assessed the area to ensure that no harmful fumes were present. This temporary shutdown resulted in delays for three vessels headed outbound and one tug and barge vessel navigating inbound. For further details, including photos and videos of the incident, please follow these links: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2331144/fire-aboard-navigator-europa#.Vm_ky79zssU, http://maritime-executive.com/article/ship-fire-closes-sections-of-houston-ship-channel, http://abc13.com/news/fire-crews-battle-flames-on-houston-ship-channel-vessel-/1121782/, http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/Coast-guard-ship-catches-fire-362078671.html.

An incident aboard the Liberian-flagged LPG tanker Navigator Europa has resulted in the temporary closure of a two-mile section of the Houston Ship Channel. The fire erupted on Monday while the tanker was docked at Targa’s Galena Park export terminal during the loading of ethylene. Fortunately, fire crews managed to extinguish the flames within a swift 90 minutes. However, in the wake of the blaze, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) mandated the closure of the impacted waterway segment to conduct thorough inspections for any potential toxic fumes. All crew members aboard the Navigator Europa were confirmed to be safe. Known for being one of the most trafficked waterways globally, the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel serves as a vital artery for the Port of Houston, connecting numerous terminals, particularly those associated with petrochemical operations, to the Gulf of Mexico via Galveston Bay.