After the morning of this Wednesday, May 11, the fire of three vessels in the Port of Vacamonte was reported, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) together with the General Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries (DGPIMA) and the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM) reported that this incident was controlled.
The AMP said that it proceeded with the investigation to find the causes of the incident. They explained that the fire originated in one of the ships belonging to Rocmar Seafood, SA when it was anchored at a distance of 1 to 2 nautical miles from the Port of Vacamonte.
They highlighted that, despite the fact that these boats were manned by 8 people, no injuries were reported in this incident.
The fire spread to two other vessels of the same company: RISING STAR, a Panamanian-flagged fishing vessel, CHUNG KUO NO 85, a Panamanian-flagged fishing vessel, and CHUNG KUO NO 686, a Vanuatu-flagged fishing vessel. It should be noted that these ships operate in the area regularly.
The incident was controlled by the Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama (BCBRP) and the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN).
Personnel from the Pollution Prevention and Control Department (DPCC) and the DGPIMA are still on site to prevent any fuel spill from occurring, which could affect the marine ecosystem. In addition, the DGMM’s Department of Maritime Affairs Investigations (DIAM) is also in the area collecting information necessary to find the causes of this accident, so that similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
Writing by Nancy Pretto
