Navy Command Headquarters yesterday confirmed that a fire broke out aboard a Lafayette-class frigate at Kaohsiung’s Zuoying Naval Base on Monday, saying a petty officer first class surnamed Chen (陳) sustained burns to his upper arms, adding that he is now in a stable condition after receiving treatment.
The incident occurred after lubricant oil leaked from a pipe in the ship’s main engine room, sparking a flash fire that burned Chen while he was taking part in a routine drill on the Cheng De, the navy said in a statement.
“The crew immediately put out the fire, in accordance with standard operating procedure. An initial assessment indicated no major equipment or areas of the ship were damaged. The ship returned to Zuoying Naval Base under its own power for further checks and maintenance. The petty officer who was on duty in the main engine room sustained second and third-degree burns to his upper arms,” the statement said.
The incident occurred at about 10am in waters just outside of Zuoying and the leak was likely caused by a clamp that became loose for some reason, the navy said.
Chen was rushed to the Zuoying Branch of the Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, where he is currently in a stable condition after receiving medical treatment at the hospital’s burn center, the statement said.
An investigation has been launched and the navy has dispatched investigators to the Cheng De to determine if there was any negligence or legal culpability for the accident.
The accident would not affect patrols over the coming weeks or the navy’s ability to provide protection in the nation’s waters over the Lunar New Year holiday, officials said.
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