Discover the Proxima: Ratings & Maritime News

Early in the morning on March 19, 2019, a significant fire erupted on the tanker 'NS Point' shortly after 5 a.m., following an explosion in its engine room. The vessel, which was sailing from Primorsk to Vysotsk, prompted a swift response when the Swedish MRCC was notified. Authorities deployed a helicopter to the scene, while the Sea Rescue team in Riga prepared their SAR helicopter for possible assistance. Although Latvia offered to dispatch a Coastguard vessel approximately 80 nautical miles east of Kalmar, the ship's captain opted to decline the help. The fire was localized in one of the three main engines. Crew members evacuated the engine room, and the captain successfully activated the CO2 flooding system from the bridge, extinguishing the flames. Despite the successful suppression of the fire, the ship produced a substantial amount of smoke, which dissipated by around 10:30 a.m. By noon, the Swedish Coastguard patrol boat 'Triton - KBV 002' reached the site. Fortunately, the captain confirmed that all 22 crew members were safe and began assessing damage and ventilating the ship's interior. Subsequently, the 'NS Point' arrived at Gdanska Stocznia Remontowa in Gdansk for fire damage repairs on March 23 at 10:15 p.m. After completing the necessary work, the tanker departed the repair yard on April 9, setting course for Muuga, with an estimated time of arrival on April 11.