A security guard of Seaford shipyard in Mandaue Negros Waterfront Corp. in Mandaue City. mans the entrance of the shipyard where a cargo ship caught fire yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A cargo ship caught fire while docked in a shipyard in barangay Opao, Mandaue City yesterday afternoon.
Welding work was going on when one of the storage rooms of Seaford 7 caught fire.
SFO2 Cipriano Codilla, arson investigator of the Mandaue City Fire Station, said they received the fire alarm at 4:20 p.m.
The fire was put under control at 5:20 p.m.
Eight fire trucks responded to the fire alarm.
Codilla said it took time for firefighters to reach the shipyard because of heavy traffic on the way.
Welding sparks that fell on a pile of sacks caused the fire, said Codilla.
Security guards barred reporters from entering the private shipyard.
Codilla said that according to ship captain Leoncio Nazareno, the lack of proper coordination among the ship crew members contributed to the fire. Some personnel were instructed to clear the storage room from the pile of sacks before the welding works, but this was not followed.
The ship had 15 crew members. No one was hurt in the incident.
Codilla said they were not able to talk to the cargo owner to determine the cost of damage.