Tanker fire put out

Press, 22 May 1981, Page 6

Tanker fire put out

NZPA-Reuter Abu Dhabi Emergency crews yesterday put out a fire on a fully loaded oil tanker which was ripped by explosions on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates port of Jebel Dhana. The general manager of the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company,Captain Hamish Green, said some fuel oil from the 47,000fonne Anna Xyla had leaked into the sea but its cargo of 250,000 barrels of crude oil was safe. He said fire-fighting tugs put out the main part of the blaze early yesterday and doused the last flames when they went on board later. Two badly burned crewmen are still in hospital in a serious condition. The cause

of the explosions is not known. Saudi Arabian fire-fighting helicopters fought a blaze yesterday on a Greek cargo ship in danger of sinking in the Red Sea, Saudi military sources said in Jeddah. The helicopters and passing ships had rescued the crew of the freighter Maria after a fire broke out in its engine room soon after dawn. Radio reports from ships nearby told of crewmen taking to the lifeboats as smoke and flame belched from the ship. The Saudi sources said 22 crewmen were lifted off by helicopter and taken to Yanbu Airport Hospital. No serious injuries were reported.