Navy rescues fire stricken tug

The Naval inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Rotoiti responded to a mayday call this morning (June 15); a tug was on fire north of Cape Rodney.

Rotoiti was at anchor in the Hauraki Gulf conducting a Naval training exercise when the Rescue Coordination Centre requested assistance to the mayday call. Arriving at the reported site at 6 am, the fire crew of Rotoiti conducted an external survey with hand-held and on-board thermal imaging equipment. The fire was out but still smouldering. They found significant blistering and residue hot spots on the port funnel.

The five crew onboard the Koraki had evacuated to a life raft and lifeboat and were uplifted by the Coastguard who also attended the mayday call. The tug, which was pulling a barge, was on its way to Whangarei.

With information gathered from the external survey, the Commanding Officer of Rotoiti, Lieutenant Andrew Hogg, sent in a fire crew with full breathing apparatus and fire fighting equipment to extinguish the smouldering fire and cool the hotspots. Once it was confirmed that the fire was out, an overhaul of the compartments was carried out to ensure the fire didn’t reignite.

Lieutenant Hogg said the crew reacted immediately with a willingness to help those in distress.

“They were very professional in their fire fighting re-entry to the engine room of the tug, which is especially commendable considering it was an unknown compartment and was the scene of a real fire.”

Also responding to the mayday were Circa Rescue and Kawau Rescue along with the Westpac helicopter. HMNZS Manawanui was anchored at Kawau Island ready to offer assistance if required.

It is believed the fire was started by an electrical fault over the port engine.

Date: Tuesday June 15, 2010

Images:
Top: Crew from HMNZS Rotoiti in one of the ships rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) collect the used lifeboat.
Bottom: Crew from Rotoiti boarding the tug.