RP PRAAG

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Fire in engine room

On March 13, 2025, at 1:51 p.m., there was smoke development aboard the 'RP Praag' while sailing on the Rhine near Düsseldorf-Volmerswerth near Grimlingshausen at river kilometre 733. The captain reported a flash fire in the engine room and smoke coming from the engine room. When the first rescue boat arrived from Neuss, the engine room was already heavily filled with smoke, but open flames were no longer visible. A team of fire fighters, wearing breathing apparatus, entered the engine room to investigate, while another team assisted the crew of the unloaded tankerl. After a thorough inspection, no further fire spread was detected. The fire had extinguished itself. The affected area was nevertheless further inspected for possible embers, and finally smoke was ventilated using a positive pressure fan. A crew member of the ship suffered smoke inhalation and was treated on board by the crew of an ambulance, which was brought aboard from the marina by the Neuss rescue boat. The injured person was then removed from the ship and transported by ambulance to a hospital for further medical treatment. A total of 20 emergency personnel were on scene, spending approximately four hours fighting the fire, clearing smoke, and rescuing the injured person. The Water Police have begun an investigation into the cause of the fire, which was thought to have been a heat buildup in the engine room. After consultation with the Waterways Authority, the vessel resumed sailing at 4.30 p.m. and was berthed in the port of Neuss at 6.20 p.m. The incident did not result in any restrictions for shipping. Water police officers have filed a shipping accident report and begun investigating the cause of the fire. Report with photo: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/122045/5990501