TRAPPED IN BLAZING OIL TANKER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20917, 6 January 1930, Page 5

TRAPPED IN BLAZING OIL TANKER.

TERRIBLE SCENES ON BOARD. Fire broke out on board- a British oiltanker when she was being towed into dry dock, and in an inferno of blazing petroleum 10 men lost their lives. Several were also severely burned in making their escape from the agonising heat. Among the dead, who were identified after the captain had made a roll call, were two British officers.-

The ignitmg of the petrol or benzine floating m Rotterdam Barbour near the vessel is one of the theories advanced to account for the fire which partial!? destroyed the Glasgow oil-tanker, Vimeira, 0728 tons. She was being taken by tugc to the Rotterdam Dry Dock Company s ?£ ck Tv for repairs, and about 50 men of the Dry Dock Company were on board clearing the tanks of gas when suddenly the whole ship burst into flames, which shot through the deck and leaped higher than the bridge. Men who were working underneath rushed, panic-stricken, on deck. Many sprang overboard, and were picked up by tugs and other boats which dashed to the scene. ■ It was subsequently established that among the missing were Mr C. Bone, the chief engineer, of Clydcbank; and Mr B. Stewart, the first mate, ?V Dundee. Seven charred bodies of labourers who were engaged in cleaning out the tanks were also recovered The only woman on board was Mrs Ev'a Finlayson. the wife of Captain Finlayson, of Edinburgh. She made a dramatic escape by jumping from the wheelhouse into a motor boat which ran alongside the burning vessel. She broke hqr leg, and was at once conveyed to hospital. In response to the alarm given by the siren of the Vimeira, the Rotterdam Floating Fire Brigade arrived speedily on the scene! • i,Uey poured thousands of gallons of water into the tanker, but before the flames were subdued the ship had been burned °, tlt , amidships. The part destroyed included the captain’s quarters. When the ft? first raised the burgomaster ot Rotterdam, accompanied by the harbour master, was on a round of inspect docks. They were witnesses ot the spectacle that followed. The assistant harbour master attributed the cause of the outbreak to floating oil near the Vimeira becoming ignited. “In a moment, ’ he stated, in describing what he saw, _ the flames had spread to the ship. Which was quickly in flames araidships Even-body immediately dashed to the stern of the tanker in a wild rush away from the flames. When the flames swept towards them they jumped overboard. I myself saw the bodies, of two men who were caught in the flames and burned to death. It is probable that n 2°f' 1 e l oß .* their lives this way. Many of the injured were rushed awav to various hospitals in the city. Some of them were suffering from broken limbs sustained in the rush away from the flames and off the ship.” One of the survivors declared that /hen ne and his companions were at work in the pumproom he heard a cry of “ Fire ” and saw flames. He rushed on deck and found refuge in the forepeak, where he and another man threw out anchors, which prevented the vessel from drifting further. Other survivors thought that the glowing ashes from the stokehold of the j'meira set alight the oil on the surface ot the water.

The Rotterdam Harbour authorities hefd an inquiry which revealed that had the wind been blowing from another quarter the tragedy might have been averted Their report stated that there could be no question of carelessness or the anno--tioning of blame.