Multi-agency investigation looks into Durban port fire

Investigations were under way to determine the cause of the fire that engulfed a trawler while it was moored at the Port of Durban last Thursday, South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) spokesman, Tebogo Ramatjie, told FTW. Toxic emissions filling
the hull of the trawler, the Tropical, initially prevented emergency workers from gaining entry to the vessel. Only after the emissions had cleared enough for emergency personnel to go on board was it found that six of the boat’s crew had succumbed from presumed smoke inhalation.
Ramatjie said it would take some time to “find out what exactly happened because it’s a multiinvestigation involving Dirco and the relevant authorities of Mozambique and Portugal”. The Tropical was in port for repair work at the time it caught fire.