Myanmar cargo ship catches fire, Bt15m loss, no casualties

RANONG, THAILAND, February 13 (TNA) - An anchored Myanmar freighter in Thailand's southern seaside Ranong Province caught fire on Friday, totally damaging the cargo ship, with an initial survey showing at least 15 million baht loss, but all its 16 crew members were safe. Firefighters took over two hours to bring the fire under control in the afternoon, but it had already destroyed the whole cargo ship anchored at Baan Khao Nang Hong Port in Ranong's Muang District. The ship carried flammable goods, including plastic products, furniture items and clothes. The ship's master said that the freighter left Myanmar's Yangon City five days ago and docked at the port on Thursday evening and, while the crew members were loading the last set of the goods on board the ship before noon, its engine was started for a warm up before departure and there was then a spark, probably caused by a short circuit in the battery, triggering the fire, which quickly raged through the whole freighter. Local authorities remained unable to board the ship to examine the cause and the damage of the fire, but they asked the ship's master to present needed documents for further investigation. (TNA)