On 16 November 2013, shifting of the vessel’s cargo, which included 70 tonnes of diesel, aviation fuel and gasoline in jerrycans and tank containers, caused fire aboard the vessel, which was carrying 20 crew and 12 passengers.
Britannia’s crew, assisted by Norwegian Soldiers, rescue teams and firefighters, battled the fire on deck, 70 nm from shore. “As Captain, I watched the fire from the bridge, while the crew were fighting it on the open deck in high seas, facing an intense situation with extreme heat,” Kristensen explained, “or striving in the engine room to avoid a blackout which could have had fatal consequences for the ship, the persons onboard and the environment.”
The flames, which reached up to 30 m high, were finally extinguished 13 hours later. “Personally, I am very proud to be Captain of this crew which managed so well under those extreme circumstances,” said Kristensen, adding that the award should be shared with everybody who aided in the rescue, as well as the passengers.
IMO indicated that Kristensen’s decision not to exacerbate the fire by turning the ship windward in order to evacuate passengers likely saved many lives, including those of the rescue teams and firefighting crew.