A dramatic fire broke out aboard a supply vessel in the Bay of Algeciras on Tuesday 24th June evening, prompting a rapid rescue effort and the activation of emergency marine protocols. All seven crew members aboard the vessel, Ceutamar 5, were safely rescued after abandoning ship as thick black smoke rose into the sky.
The fire, which started shortly after 5:30 p.m. near the port of Algeciras, engulfed the small supply craft while it was servicing a containership at anchor. Witnesses along the coast and in nearby Los Barrios reported seeing dense smoke and flames coming from the vessel.
The crew, consisting mostly of professional divers, jumped into the sea to escape the blaze. They were quickly rescued by teams from Spain’s maritime rescue agency, Salvamento Marítimo, and transferred to safety. Two individuals were treated on site for mild smoke inhalation but did not require hospitalisation. Emergency services responded swiftly, activating the Port of Algeciras’s Self-Protection Plan at Level 2 and the Maritime Interior Plan due to concerns about a possible fuel spill. Multiple tugboats, along with Salvamento Marítimo vessels and firefighting units from the Port Authority, were deployed to battle the flames and cool the ship’s superstructure.
Fortunately, no marine pollution was detected following inspections by environmental officers. The damaged vessel was later towed to port for further cooling and assessment.
The Ceutamar 5, operated by Marítima Velum, is a locally based support vessel often used in underwater inspection and maintenance operations. Authorities from the Guardia Civil’s Policía Judicial unit and the Port Authority have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this moment in time.
“This could have ended very differently,” a port official said. “Thanks to the quick response and the professionalism of our emergency teams, a major disaster was averted.”
Operations at the port resumed without significant delays.
