ENGINE FIRE ON FORTH PILOT BOAT

The ‘Forth Leopard’, a Forth Pilot Boat, reported an engine room fire to Forth Coastguard at 3.30am today.

The two crew reported that there was a fire in the engine room and that they were in the middle of the Firth of Forth. They had used the onboard fire control system to seal the engine room and believed the fire was under control. There were no reported injuries.

Forth Coastguard sent the RNLI lifeboat from Kinghorn and the Forth Ports’ tug ‘Fidra’ to the scene. ‘Fidra’ towed ‘Forth Leopard’ to Leith Docks where it was met by Lothian and Borders Fire Service who investigated the fire. Fisherrow Coastguard Rescue Team was also at the docks to monitor the situation.

Gordon Downard Watch Manager Forth Coastguard said:

“Fire on a vessel at sea is every mariners’ nightmare but this was a textbook example of how it should be dealt with.”

-Ends-


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