Engine fire on HMAS Maryborough at sea

HMAS Maryborough suffered an engine fire late yesterday at sea.

The Armidale-class patrol boat reported a fire in the engine room while operating north-east of Darwin.

A Defence spokesman said the ship’s crew extinguished the fire in accordance with procedures.

“No crew members were injured in the incident,” the spokesman said.

“The ship is being returned to Darwin for inspection and an assessment of any damage.”

Defence did not specify whether the ship was returning to Darwin under her own power nor how far off shore it was when the incident happened.

An investigation into the incident is now underway.

A fire on a ship at sea can be very dangerous. In 1998, four Royal Australian Navy sailors were killed in an engine-room fire aboard HMAS Westralia.

A fire aboard an Armidale-class patrol boat can also be particularly devastating. In 2014, HMAS Bundaberg was damaged beyond repair by fire while under maintenance. Fifteen fire appliances and 60 firefighters took more than five hours to extinguish the blaze. .

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