Explosion on Chemical Tanker in Shannon Foynes Port Leaves Two Crewmembers Seriously Injured
Operations at the Irish port of Shannon Foynes in County Limerick came to a halt on Tuesday evening, June 24, following reports of an explosion aboard the chemical tanker Bow Hercules. The vessel, operated by Odfjell Tankers and registered in Norway, had arrived at the port earlier that day from Purfleet, UK.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after the blast occurred around 6:30 p.m. local time. Two crewmembers, both from the Philippines, sustained serious injuries in the incident. One was airlifted to receive urgent medical care, while the other was taken by ambulance for treatment.
Initial investigations suggest that the explosion was triggered by a gas cylinder detonation while the crew was carrying out routine maintenance near the lifeboat area on the 183-meter long tanker, which was built in 2017.
Shannon Foynes Port, Ireland’s largest bulk and breakbulk facility, resumed operations once the situation was under control. The Bow Hercules remains docked for safety checks and a thorough inquiry into the cause of the accident.