On berthing, a cargo vessel found that discharge was not due to start and the crew were stood down except one seaman doing a "night aboard". By midnight all had retired to their cabins. The C/E and the watch keeper stayed up watching TV until about 0130, when the C/E retired to his cabin, leaving just the watch keeper awake and preparing some food in the galley.
At about 0310, the fire alarm sounded. Panel indicated a fire in the upper engine room, steering gear, or separator room, although smoke was evident in the accommodation. The general alarm was sounded, shore authorities informed, and the ship's whistle sounded. C/E established that while there was no smoke in the engine room, the accommodation fan room was full of it. Realizing the fire was in the accommodation, he went to the muster station on deck, where the master confirmed that four seamen were missing. The C/O, wearing an SCBA set, rescued two seamen from their cabins, while others found one of the two superintendent's onboard unconscious in his cabin. With the watchman unaccounted for and thick smoke in the mess room, the master and chief officer, both wearing SCBA sets, entered it. They found the galley door shut but radiating intense heat and eventually found the missing seaman, unconscious inside.
Two shore fire-fighters assisted in removing the seaman to the open deck, but he later died. Further investigation confirmed that the reason of the fire was overheated cooking oil in a chip pan that had been placed on top of the galley stove.
The fire left one dead, three crew members injured, and three others suffering from smoke inhalation. It caused considerable smoke and heat damage to the galley, mess room, accommodation and service spaces.
