The officer, a rota commander, succumbed during a firefighting operation onboard a tanker anchored off Singapore.
SINGAPORE: A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer lost his life early on Thursday (May 16) after battling a fire onboard a China-flagged tanker, Sheng Hang Hua 6, anchored southwest of Singapore.
The SCDF received an alert about the fire at around 12.15am. Responders from the West Coast Marine Fire Station boarded the vessel, discovering smoke billowing from the engine room, where the fire originated, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
The fallen officer, a rota commander, had entered the engine room with a firefighter to tackle the blaze. The firefighter operated a water jet to suppress the flames while the rota commander moved around the smoke-filled area with a thermal imager to detect hot spots.
Tragically, during the operation, another team found the rota commander lying at the bottom of a staircase leading to a lower platform of the engine room. Though initially conscious, he appeared unwell and was immediately evacuated.
He subsequently lost consciousness, prompting resuscitation efforts. He was rushed to National University Hospital after being transported to Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal. Despite these efforts, the officer was pronounced dead at the hospital around 5.50am.
In its statement, the SCDF expressed profound sadness over the loss, extending full support to the officer’s family.
The tanker, which carried no cargo, remains stable, with no reports of oil pollution, according to the MPA. Navigational warnings have been issued to keep vessels clear of the site as investigations continue.
This incident follows a similar tragedy in December 2022 when 19-year-old national serviceman Sergeant Edward H Go died while combating a flat fire in Henderson Road. He was the first firefighter to lose his life in an SCDF operation.
These losses underscore the risks faced by SCDF personnel in their line of duty, highlighting their bravery and commitment to protecting lives and property.
