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326-IM-0065-0008
Title
Air-Sea Dash to Blazing Ship
Date(s)
- 1955-05-27 (Creation)
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The Times of Ceylon Press
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Air-sea dash to blazing ship.
A navy helicopter yesterday hovered feet above the blistering decks of a stricken ship racing for port with clouds of flame-flecked smoke pouring from her. The helicopter was lowering fire extinguishers to the crew of the 7,000-ton British freighter Maidenhead, dashing for Harwich at full steam with a hold-full of blazing coke.
The Maidenhead reported the fire early yesterday morning. An hour later came the dramatic message; "Decks unbearable above burning hold. Saloon unusable. Fire-fighting resources exhausted".
As the helicopter transferred the fire-fighting equipment to the smoke-clouded ship, four minesweepers and the tug Empire Lucy, with the Harwich fire brigade aboard, came alongside. The firemen boarded the Maidenhead and began to flood the blazing hold while the minesweepers and the Aldeburgh lifeboat escorted the ship towards land. A RAF Shackleton,, carrying air-sea rescue kit, circled above. Late last night firemen were battling the flames as the Maidenhead lay at anchor off Felixstowe. As firemen, wearing oxygen masks, poured water into the hold some of the 36-man crew hauled up food sent by tug.
PS: A Daily Mirror's cameramen's view of yesterday's drastic scene.
A navy helicopter yesterday hovered feet above the blistering decks of a stricken ship racing for port with clouds of flame-flecked smoke pouring from her. The helicopter was lowering fire extinguishers to the crew of the 7,000-ton British freighter Maidenhead, dashing for Harwich at full steam with a hold-full of blazing coke.
The Maidenhead reported the fire early yesterday morning. An hour later came the dramatic message; "Decks unbearable above burning hold. Saloon unusable. Fire-fighting resources exhausted".
As the helicopter transferred the fire-fighting equipment to the smoke-clouded ship, four minesweepers and the tug Empire Lucy, with the Harwich fire brigade aboard, came alongside. The firemen boarded the Maidenhead and began to flood the blazing hold while the minesweepers and the Aldeburgh lifeboat escorted the ship towards land. A RAF Shackleton,, carrying air-sea rescue kit, circled above. Late last night firemen were battling the flames as the Maidenhead lay at anchor off Felixstowe. As firemen, wearing oxygen masks, poured water into the hold some of the 36-man crew hauled up food sent by tug.
PS: A Daily Mirror's cameramen's view of yesterday's drastic scene.
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- The Times of Ceylon Press (Creator)
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25 MiB
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June 4, 2015 12:37 AM