The Cyprus-flagged Ro-Ro passenger vessel Tom Sawyer caught fire in Rostock, Germany, after oil leaked onto hot machinery during maintenance work, injuring one person. The vessel has been prohibited from sailing by German authorities and remains out of service.
The fire was caused when a contractor employee opened an oil tank during maintenance, allowing oil to leak into the shaft and surrounding machinery. Heat from internal components ignited the oil. The injured crew member was struck by hot oil; the severity of the injury has not been publicly detailed.
Approximately 50 firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the fire after several hours. Leaked oil remained contained within the vessel and no environmental impact was reported.
Tom Sawyer measures 177 metres LOA with a beam of 26 metres and a gross tonnage of 26,478 tonnes. The vessel was built in 1989. The ship is expected to return to regular service once repairs are completed. No timeline has been confirmed.
German authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.
