INJURED: bow on "March Christina" has obvious injuries after the blast that occurred during loading in Oslo on Tuesday afternoon. Foto: DAG NORDSVEEN Photo: DAG Nordsveen
Sovcomflot owned and Marpetrol operated tanker “Mar Cristina” suffered an explosion during operations prior to loading at Sandefjord, Norway.
The violent explosion sent columns of smoke from the tanker "Mar Cristina." When it was turned full disaster alert.
There were no injuries to the crew, no fire and no pollution. The crew remain on board and are carrying out a damage assessment.
“Mar Cristina” was in ballast at the time. There is some damage to the vessel’s main deck, which will require repairs. The decision regarding a repair yard is to be made yet. “Mar Cristina” remains at the berth, in a stable condition, as inspections continue. The cause of this incident is under investigation.
After the fire department in Oslo had investigated the accident site, told they are now people to stay indoors.
Police: - Stay indoors
They ask for a safety distance of 1500 meters around the boat. Residents should stay indoors for now, police wrote in Vestfold in a press release at 16.10.
Marpetrol was acquired by Sovcomflot and Novoship back in 2006
“Mar Cristina”, 6,672 tonnes deadweight, is a double-hulled product/chemical tanker built in 2001. The vessel called at Sandefjord to load a cargo of waste water from shoreside storage tanks.