A modern Japanese-owned handymax has suffered an engine room explosion off the US West Coast, according to the US Coast Guard (USCG).
The 63,498-dwt Federal Iris (built 2016) was 120 miles west of the Columbia River entrance after main diesel engine components malfunctioned and caused a localized explosion,
“None of the 21 crew members were injured, but the damage rendered the main propulsion system inoperable,” the USCG said in a statement.
