Explosion Aboard Bulk Carrier in NZ Injures Three Crew

In the early hours of May 24, a serious maritime accident took place aboard the bulk carrier Olivia while it was docked in New Zealand. An explosion in the ship's engine room resulted in injuries to three crew members, two of whom are reported to be in critical condition.

The event happened around 3:15 am local time as the vessel was moored at Berth 11 in South Port, Bluff. The crew were carrying out maintenance work on a boiler when the incident occurred. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the injuries were caused by a boiler explosion or a flashback, which is a rapid ignition of accumulated gases.

Medical personnel responded quickly to treat the injured crew. A small blaze was also reported but was successfully contained before fire and emergency teams arrived on the scene.

Olivia had reached South Port on April 22 after setting sail from Bintulu, Malaysia.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), an independent agency in New Zealand tasked with probing major transport-related incidents, has launched an investigation into what is officially being classified as a "serious marine casualty." This designation is reserved for accidents resulting in death, serious harm, vessel loss, or significant environmental consequences, as outlined by the International Maritime Organization’s guidelines.

TAIC investigators are now gathering data and speaking to those onboard to uncover the exact cause of the explosion.

Olivia is a bulk carrier built in 2013, sailing under the Maltese flag. The ship is 179.9 meters long, 28.4 meters wide, and has a gross tonnage of 20,928.