Boat catches fire at fishing port in Keelung

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) A 56-ton fishing boat caught fire Monday evening at Badouzi Fishing Port in Keelung City, sending thick black smoke high into the night sky, according to the Keelung City Fire Bureau.

All six crew members jumped into the sea to escape and none were injured, according to the ship's captain.

Firefighters received a report at 9:32 p.m. that the vessel, registered at Shenao Fishing Port in New Taipei's Ruifang District, was burning about 200 meters from shore.

Twelve vehicles and 24 firefighters were dispatched to the parking lot next to the Keelung District Fishermen's Association, where they saw the boat engulfed in flames with smoke billowing skyward, the bureau said.

Firefighters began spraying water, and the vessel drifted away from shore because it could not be secured with mooring lines, making it difficult to extinguish the fire.

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) sent firefighting vessels to assist, towed the boat to shore, and worked with firefighters to bring the fire under control at 10:43 p.m.

The ship's captain, surnamed Lo (駱), said that after unloading a catch, he was maneuvering the boat to dock when "a huge amount of smoke and flames began pouring from the cabin."

He said he steered the vessel away from shore to prevent the blaze from spreading to other fishing boats, after which the whole crew of six abandoned ship by jumping into the water.