A fire erupted on the 23,986 gross tonne Ro-Ro cargo ship Blue Carrier 2 at 08:57 local time on September 25, 2026, while the vessel sailed approximately 4.5 nautical miles north of Mykonos. All 29 people on board, including 28 crew members and one truck driver, were safely evacuated and transferred to Tinos.
Salvage and Firefighting Response
The Hellenic Coast Guard coordinated a significant firefighting and salvage operation involving patrol vessels, firefighting vessels operated by the Fire Service, and multiple tugboats. The specialized salvage tug Aigaion Pelagos, equipped for firefighting and dispatched from Piraeus, also took part. The Blue Carrier 2 was towed to
a sheltered position off the southwestern coast of Tinos where firefighting and cooling efforts have been ongoing. As of September 27, five tugboats remained active in the area due to persistent fire pockets on board.
Cargo, Route and Vessel Background
At the time of the fire, Blue Carrier 2 was operating its scheduled route from Piraeus to Syros, Vathy, Kos, Rhodes, returning to Kos, and then back to Piraeus. The vessel carried 166 trucks and 29 private passenger vehicles. Built in Japan in 1997 under the name Clementine, the ship has approximately 2,307 lane meters of cargo capacity. Attica Group acquired the vessel in 2023
and renamed it Blue Carrier 2 in January 2024 as it entered Greek domestic freight service under the Blue Star Ferries brand.
Ongoing Challenges and Investigation
The fire reportedly started on the vehicle deck, which complicated firefighting operations and caused the vessel to list due to the accumulation of firefighting water. Stabilization of the vessel, containment of the fire, and prevention of marine pollution have been immediate priorities. The Tinos Port Authority is conducting a preliminary investigation into the incident. Official reports suggest the fire may have originated in a truck in garage No. 4, but the cause remains unconfirmed.
Attica Group confirmed that
firefighting procedures were activated immediately and that the evacuation was orderly, utilizing the vessel’s own arrangements. All personnel evacuated remain in good health. Specialized salvage and environmental protection companies have been engaged by Attica Ferries to cooperate with authorities during ongoing operations.
