Visakhapatnam: Port crane engulfs in fire

Visakhapatnam: A Harbour Mobile Crane (HMC) of 2017 make engulfed in fire on Monday evening while loading iron ore into the vessel MV Yasa Falcon at WQ-1 berth at inner harbour of Visakhapatnam Port.

The HMC, owned by Seapol Port Ltd, engulfed in fire in the engine room and the vessel was shifted away from the berth and the crane operator got off the crane safely.

VPT deployed its fire float, shore fire tenders and water tankers for controlling the fire which was doused after one-and-a-half-hours. Short circuit due to snapping of belts is said to be the probable cause for the fire eruption at the engine compartment where the HMC was stationed. However, the incident is being investigated.

According to sources, there are no casualties or injuries reported. But the loss caused to the HMC is yet to be ascertained.

However, this is the third such incident in a row after the Coastal Jaguar offshore vessel, container of Container Corporation of India related to the port sector caught fire earlier in different locations.