
29/06/2025
Two Filipino Crew Members Seriously Injured In Explosion On Tanker At Ireland’s Second Largest Port
An explosion aboard a ship docked at Shannon Foynes Port in County Limerick, Ireland, on Tuesday evening, June 24, left two crew members seriously injured.
The incident happened at around 6:30 p.m. on the chemical tanker Bow Hercules, a Norwegian-registered vessel operated by Odfjell Tankers. The ship had arrived earlier in the day from Purfleet, near the UK’s Tilbury Port.
The explosion, which was caused by a gas cylinder, took place while the crew was performing routine maintenance near the ship’s lifeboat area.
The two injured men, aged in their 40s and 60s and both from the Philippines, were believed to be working close to where the blast occurred.
Emergency services, including gardaí (Irish police), HSE paramedics, fire and rescue teams, and a Cork-based air ambulance, quickly responded to the scene.
Shannon Foynes is Ireland’s largest port for bulk and breakbulk cargo. The serious nature of the emergency response led to a temporary halt in port activities, but officials confirmed that the port would resume operations later the same evening.