An Israeli cargo vessel, the S. S. Etrog, this morning was beached near Milford Haven, about 100 miles west of here, after a 17-hour fire was extinguished in the ship’s hold. No casualties were reported among the 46 crewmen and passengers, but the Zim-Israel Navigation Company, owners of the vessel, confirmed today that the ship was extensively damaged. Efforts are now in progress to refloat the vessel.
The ship was beached at Dale, a holiday resort near Milford Haven, after the women and children and 28 crew members were landed at the latter town. Plans to beach the ship at Milford Haven had to be abandoned when it was learned that an Egyptian vessel was loading explosives at the Royal Navy depot in the harbor. Ten crew members and the ship’s master, Capt. Rafael Spirath. stayed aboard the Etrog to fight the blaze. The crews quarters were completely destroyed in the fire.
The 1,845-ton vessel, which was carrying cotton and plywood, was en route from Haifa to Liverpool, when the fire broke out.
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