A fire that broke out aboard the passenger vessel Caribbean Fantasy at 7:42 a.m. on August 17 has been extinguished, and the vessel has been moored safely in port.
The Caribbean Fantasy is covered under Ardent’s OPA-90, Salvage and Marine Fire Fighting “SMFF” coverage program.
The passenger ferry vessel Caribbean Fantasy is towed to Pier 15 in San Juan Harbor on August 20, 2016. There were 511 passengers and crew evacuated from the vessel on August 17, 2016, following a fire on board. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall)Ardent contracted tug, Beth M. McAllister, uses a fire hose to cool the hull of the 561-foot Caribbean Fantasy ferry vessel that caught fire earlier a mile from San Juan Harbor, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. The Caribbean Fantasy was covered under Ardent’s OPA-90, Salvage and Marine Fire Fighting coverage program. Ardent responded to the incident onboard the vessel. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)The passenger ferry vessel Caribbean Fantasy is towed to Pier 15 in San Juan Harbor on August 20, 2016. There were 511 passengers and crew evacuated from the vessel on August 17, 2016, following a fire on board. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall)Ardent contracted tug, Beth M. McAllister, uses a fire hose to cool the hull of the 561-foot Caribbean Fantasy ferry vessel that caught fire earlier a mile from San Juan Harbor, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. The Caribbean Fantasy was covered under Ardent’s OPA-90, Salvage and Marine Fire Fighting coverage program. Ardent responded to the incident onboard the vessel. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)
Prior to Ardent operations, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the vessel, and successfully evacuated more than 500 passengers and crew members.
“We did a dive survey of the vessel at sea, found that there was minimal damage to the hull, and brought her to port with the USCG’s approval. Our fire team then went onboard to extinguish the fire,” said Ardent Salvage Master, Guy Wood.
McAllister Towing was one of Ardent’s OPA-90 partners that assisted in responding with two z-drive tractor tugs, Brooklyn McAllister and Beth M. McAllister. Puerto Rico Towing and Barge and Moran Towing also provided tugs for the operation.
Ardent demobilized emergency response personnel and equipment one week after (Aug. 25) the successful operation, and handed the vessel back to the ship owner.
“It was a smooth job. We berthed [the Caribbean Fantasy] at the port and implemented our heavy weather mooring plan, then returned the vessel to her owner,” Wood said.