The Russian car and passenger ferry Elena caught fire in the port of Crimea. The fire started after short circuit in compartment on lower deck after vessel unberthed and started maneuver for leaving the port. During the accident on board there were hundreds of passengers and cars. The crew saw thick smoke from the starboard and started firefighting. The fire was extinguished in a few minuted and did not extended to the nearby compartments. The flames did not affected the vessel’s hull and engineering. There were no injured people during the accident and root cause of the fire is under investigation. The operations of the car and passenger ferry Elena were not affected by the accident and vessel returned in operations after short inspection from the local authorities.

“The fire occurred in one of the rooms on the lower deck of the ferry. The automatic fire extinguishing system was not started, but crew succeeded to extinguish it fast”, said the representative of Maritime Directorate. “The incident did not affect the work of the ship. Ferry continued to work on the line following the schedule”, added he.

The Russian car and passenger ferry Elena (IMO: 9774501) is owned by Koksohimtrans and operating on fixed route Crimea-Caucasus through Kerch Strait. The vessel has overall length of 102.00 m, moulded beam of 19.00 m and maximum draft of 4.00 m. The ferry has capacity to carry 510 passengers and 140 vehicles.

Video from the fire on board of car and passenger ferry Elena:

