The 34 meter long guard vessel Karm Viking caught fire after two gas bottles exploded on board at Seljesanden, Norway. The former fishing vessel had two crew on board when the fire alarm sounded and smoke erupted from below decks. The men contacted the local fire brigade who got the fire under control, but not after the interior of the vessel was burned out. The Karm Viking was later towed out into the fjord as concerns that the fire could reignite or other welding tanks on board would explode. No reports of injuries.
The abandoned 26 ton fishing vessel Cheng Tsai Li was discovered by the Japanese Coast Guard off the Miyako Island. The fishing vessel was found partially burnt along with a significant list as the hull had suffered water ingress. The Coast Guard search the vessel and found no one on board. Rescue boats from Japan and Taiwan started a search for survivors. One crewman was later rescued from the sea by another fishing boat. He was taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and from injuries from shark bites. The other four crewmen are still reported as missing. The cause of the incident was not clear, but the crewman stated the vessel had caught fire forcing the crew to abandoned ship.
On December 29, 2013, the 55700 gt car carrier Gravity Highway collided with the 44404 dwt chemical tanker Maritime Maisie off Busan, South Korea. The car carrier was on sea trials with 64 staff and crew when it struck into the port side of the tanker. The Maritime Maisie suffered 8 meter hole and suffered a small explosion as two chemical containers of paraxylene and crylonitrile caught fire. Authorities dispatched over a dozen rescue vessels and helicopters to the scene. All 91 persons from both vessels were safely evacuated. Some crew suffered minor injuries from slight burns. Authorities stated that the fire was under the control, but some 4000 tons of chemicals had already burned. The tanker may break-up or sink as the vessel developed a 20 degree list from the water ingress. The Maritime Maisie was en route to Ningbo from Busan. The car carrier was taken under tow to a nearby shipyard. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
