Nova Scotia

Bulk carrier crew sent to Sydney hospital after explosion on board

Five crew members from a Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier were sent to hospital after a methane explosion on board.

Coast guard says it helped with medevacs after 5 crew members aboard CSL Kajika hurt in incident

The Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier Kajika is moored in Sydney harbour after 5 crew members were injured in a methane explosion on board. (Matthew Moore/CBC)

Five crew members aboard a bulk carrier were sent to hospital in Sydney, N.S., after being injured Monday in an explosion on the ship.

Canada Steamship Lines said two crew members suffered minor burns to their faces and hands, and three others sustained superficial injuries after methane ignited in a carpenter's workshop while the ship was at anchor in Sydney harbour.

In an email, CSL spokesperson Brigitte Hebert said one crew member has been discharged from hospital and the others are expected to be released in the next few days.

One will need further treatment for a broken bone.

Hebert said the CSL Kajika, which has been moored in Sydney harbour since the explosion, did not incur any structural damage.

She said the incident is under investigation and that Transport Canada has cleared the vessel to return to operations.

According to the Canadian Coast Guard, a local boat was called in to help with medical evacuation after the explosion.

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Tom Ayers

Reporter/Editor

Tom Ayers has been a reporter and editor for 38 years. He has spent the last 20 covering Cape Breton and Nova Scotia stories. You can reach him at tom.ayers@cbc.ca.