IT was a chaotic scene on Wednesday morning at Port Kaituma, Region One, when a gas pump exploded in the engine room of the MV Barima ferry vessel, resulting in a fire. Quick action quelled the blaze and averted a major disaster.

A crew member recounted that around 11:30 hours while cargo was being offloaded, a gas pump in the engine room exploded. He said a fire erupted and persons in the vicinity immediately provided assistance.

“The fire just got big and it was uncontrollable. However, we tried to get it under control,” the man said. The extent of the damage has not been ascertained thus far.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Public Works and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), in a press release, informed that the fire was brought under control.

The vessel departed the port in Georgetown on Saturday last, around 14:15 hours, and arrived at Port Kaituma on Sunday. The management of T&HD and officials from the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Home Affairs are currently working to verify the source of the fire and the extent of the damage done to the vessel, the release said.

It added that the T&HD is currently engaging external engineers to assist in conducting an immediate investigation into this incident and to provide a full report on the cause of the fire. Attempts will be made to ensure that the service is back in operation at the soonest possible time, the release added.