The Greta K left the port of Leixoins towards the shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

The Greta K departed on Tuesday in tow, heading to a shipyard in Genoa, Italy, following an incident off the coast of Leixoes on March 23, the Port Authority of Douro and Leixoes said Wednesday.

The ship, loaded with 14,000 tons of fuel, was preparing to enter the port of Leishoynes when it announced a fire on board, in the engine room, around 15:20 on March 23, five minutes after the APDL pilot entered. , who maintained his presence on board, leading the maneuver away from the ship, without any equipment, supported by APDL tugs, who at the same time put out the fire and cooled the cargo tanks.

The Port of Leishoynes immediately activated its contingency plan, integrating the APDL’s Center for Operations Coordination (CCO), which began coordinating all actions at sea and on land.

The APDL statement said the five harbor tugs and their crews have kept the ship safe from the start 12 miles and while fighting the fire.

“The pilot boats provided all the logistics for the transfer of crews, the transportation of the necessary equipment and cargo, namely food, for the well-being of the crews involved,” he says.

Crews, both lifeboats and tugs, remained on board day and night until the ship was handed over to an outside tug, which happened on the afternoon of 26 March.

Together with various organizations, it was possible to create conditions for unloading the ship in the port of Leishoins and completing preparations for the voyage in tow bound for Genoa.

According to the Portuguese Navy, a fire alert on the Maltese-flagged tanker Greta K, which was sailing about a mile and a half from the coast, about three kilometers, near Praia dos Ingléses, in Foz do Douro, was transmitted about 15:30 on the 23rd at the Lisbon Naval Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC).

There were 19 crew members on board the ship, all citizens of the Philippines.