On 27 October 2010, a fire broke out in the Faroese factory trawler ATHENA when the ship with 111 crew was under way for fishing in the Atlantic off the coast of Mauritania.
The fire broke out in a hold on the 1st deck and quickly spread through an open hatch to apacking room above on the 2nd deck, where it was fueled by large quantities of corrugated card board packaging and air inlet through open doors and sliding hatches in surrounding bulkheads.
No one was hurt in the fire but there was severe damage to the ship’s interior, by heat and direct fire in the cargo hold on the 1st deck and in the packing room on the 2nd deck and by heat and smoke in the processing area and accommodation.
The fire was caused by short circuit and arc by a lighting installation in the cargo hold.
The Maritime Accident Investigation Commission has, on behalf of the Faroese Maritime Authority investigated in the circumstances of the fire, and findings are submitted to the Faroese Maritime Authority.
The report can be downloaded in PDF format here.