The Israeli containership Sigal was reported under tow to an Italian port over the weekend after an engine room fire spread and threatened to destroy the vessel. All 23 crew members and nine members of their families–four women and five children–were reported safe aboard rescue ships.
A spokesman for the Zim Lines of Haifa, owners of the Sigal, said Thursday that the ship was heavily damaged but the 560 containers she carried were not damaged by the fire. According to the spokesman, the blaze started in the engine room shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday and spread rapidly to the crew quarters and bridge which appear to have been destroyed. The Sigal was about 70 miles south of Sicily at the time.
Eighteen persons, including the women and children, were transferred to a Dutch vessel. The Captain and 12 crew members remained aboard for a time trying to fight the blaze. The wireless operator managed to send out a distress call before the wireless cabin was gutted by flames.
A special marine firefighting team summoned from Rotterdam, reached the Sigal Thursday evening and reportedly succeeded in bringing the fire under control. Italian air force helicopters hovered over the scene until ocean-going tugs arrived to take the burning vessel in tow.
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