ATLAS

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Blaze on barge under conversion

On June 20, 2019, at 8.40 a.m. a fire broke out in the engine room of the "Atlas", 3232 ts (EU-No.: 6002614 MMSI-No.: 205206590; CS: OT2065), which was berthed at the quay of the Ruijtenberg Offshore at the Reenway in Raamsdonksveer to be converted from a tank barge to a cargo barge. There was a lot of smoke, and plumes of flames were blazing from the windows of the superstructure and wheelhouse. Residents were asked to keep windows and doors closed. The fire department tried to extinguish the fire, which had spread to the entire superstructure, with foam. As oil was leaking into the Donge, Rijkswaterstaat, who were also on scene with a fireboat and the 'RWS 73', laid out an oil barrier to prevent the spread of pollution. Firefighting proved to be difficult because the fire was hard to reach. From the outside, the hull of the ship was cooled, while the forces tried to penetrate into the ship's interior. Acetylene cylinders were removed with the patrol boat "RWS 73" due to the danger of an explosion. At 11.15 a.m. two companies at the Maas were evacuated because of the continuous smoke development. Affected was also the nearby Dongemond College, where several classes had to leave their rooms in the middle of their test phase. The fire was finally under control at 1 pm, but it would take several hours to cool down the ship and pump out the engine room. Dutch reports with photos and video: https://www.bndestem.nl/oosterhout/brand-op-vrachtschip-raamsdonksveer-is-lastig-te-blussen~a01d8e6c/?referer=https://www.google.com/ https://www.transport-online.nl/site/104581/brand-in-machinekamer-van-schip-in-raamsdonksveer-foto/ https://twitter.com/i/status/1141614476875223040 https://twitter.com/i/status/1141640277473583106 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_o-eHyszks