4 SCDF vessels deployed to put out fire on ship anchored near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal

A fire broke out on board a ship anchored off the southeast of Singapore near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on Tuesday night (July 11).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook that it was alerted to the fire at about 9:35pm.

Four SCDF marine firefighting and rescue vessels and about 40 marine firefighting specialists from Brani and West Coast Marine Fire Stations were deployed.

Arriving alongside the ship, the firefighters boarded the vessel and using a water jet, they extinguished the fire which was confined to two accommodation decks.

Three water jets were also used to cool the exterior of the vessel. Known as boundary cooling, this helps to reduce the temperature of the vessel’s metal structure.

After the fire was extinguished, the damping down operation continued until about 5am on Wednesday. Damping down refers to the application of water to wet burnt surfaces immediately after a fire is put out. It is to prevent the potential rekindling of the fire.

There were no reported injuries and all crew members of the affected vessel were accounted for.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.