By SCOTT INGLIS
One seaman is dead and two are badly burned after an engine-room explosion crippled a container ship in the Pacific Ocean.
The hurt pair were expected to reach Norfolk Island early today after a lucky rescue by a passing tanker, the Captain Martin, yesterday.
The blast happened on the New Zealand-bound cargo ship Kota Wirawan on Monday, about 200 nautical miles west of Norfolk Island.
The Singapore-registered vessel, which had earlier left Brisbane, drifted helplessly as its crew desperately tried to fix the damage.
Dr John Davie of Norfolk Island Hospital, who had been in contact with the ship's captain, told the Herald that one of the two injured men had burns covering up to 60 per cent of his body and his wounds had turned septic. He was on antibiotics but needed intravenous fluids.
Dr Davie was due to meet the Captain Martin about 4 am today (NZ time). He would stabilise the men and administer medication before a medical evacuation plane flew them to a Sydney hospital.
The dead man, who died on Tuesday morning, had burns covering over 80 per cent of his body "so in a sense maybe it was a blessing that he did die."
Dr Davie said that, until yesterday morning, the situation looked bleak as the crew tried unsuccessfully to fix the ship's engines so they could get the men to land.
"They had been struggling for hours and hours and hours. They got it going but it was a stop-start exercise. Everything was overheating," Dr Davie said.
"There was no hope of getting a ship there at all. There was no hope of helicopters because of the distance ... "
Then the Captain Martin turned up in the area. "I think it was absolutely miraculous."
The pair were transferred by lifeboat, in what were described as difficult circumstances, for the 24-hour journey.
The rescue mission was overseen by the New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority.
The ship's owner, PIL, said it was hoped the ship would have repaired the damage by last night and continued heading for Auckland.
It was not known what caused the blast.
No cargo on board was damaged.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
West Auckland ram killings: Couple to be farewelled at Kumeu showgrounds
They were described as much-loved parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.