Crew members killed and injured in bulk carrier explosion off Morocco

Moroccan authorities are currently investigating after an explosion on board a bulk carrier chartered by an Ethiopian company killed at least seven crew members and injured others. The ship, Toro Rosso (91,384 dwt), was anchored off the port of Jorf Lasfar waiting to load Moroccan phosphate fertilizers.

Reports of an explosion and subsequent fire in the engine room of the ship, built in 1997, reached port authorities shortly after 10:00 a.m. (local time) on May 30. The ship was about eight nautical miles off the coast, which made the rescue operation difficult.

Details about the vessel are unclear, except that it is registered in Panama. Management is unknown as of late 2023. The vessel began operations for Japan’s K Line in the 1990s, but has been traded several times over the years. Her last inspection is dated 2022, when she was detained for several safety issues. The Equasis database lists her class as decommissioned.

Moroccan authorities said there were 28 crew members on board, most of them Syrian nationals, and they initially recovered three bodies from the vessel. Some reports say up to a dozen people may have been seriously injured and suffered burns. They were recovered by the pilot boat and several tugboats before two helicopters were deployed to bring the injured to shore.

According to the latest information, four other crew members succumbed to their injuries. According to some reports, a search for them was still ongoing on the ship. The death toll is seven, with nine other injured people in hospitals. The other crew members were also reportedly evacuated from the ship and are in the care of the port authority.

Jorf Lasfar is a major port for the export of fertilizers. Last year, a new record was set when the 100,000 dwt vessel Patricia Oldendorff loaded a cargo destined for India. Port officials stress that strict safety measures are followed when handling the dangerous material.