Fire on Blue Carrier 2 north of Mykonos

Fire broke out on the morning of Friday, September 25, 2026, at 08:57, on the car carrier vessel Blue Carrier 2, in the sea area north of Mykonos. On board were 29 people, 28 crew members and one truck driver traveling as a passenger, who were safely evacuated and transferred to Tinos shortly after 11:00, with no injuries. The ship-owning company, Attica Ferries, reported that the “organized evacuation of the ship was carried out with its own means” according to safety procedures, adding that all are in good health. The vessel was carrying 166 trucks and 29 private vehicles, among them refrigerated units with perishable cargo.

According to information available so far, the fire started in the ship’s garage, with one truck being investigated as a possible source, though this has not been officially confirmed. The Blue Carrier 2 is 162.5 meters long and was built in 1997. By Friday evening, September 25, the fire continued to burn in the ship’s holds, with thick black smoke covering the vessel, which remained adrift approximately 4.5 nautical miles north of Mykonos, with northerly winds of 4 Beaufort in the area.

The incident unfolds in one of the most heavily trafficked sea routes in the Cyclades, through which trucks carrying goods and foodstuffs are transported daily to and from the islands. Tinos, where the rescued persons were transferred, served as the first reception point, the same island that in October will host the 8th Dance Amphictyonies. Mykonos, opposite which the fire broke out, is already in discussion regarding the upgrade of its maritime infrastructure, with a pilot station being scheduled for the island’s port. The presence of perishable cargo on board and the risk of marine pollution emphasized by the authorities alert the area, in a zone of the Aegean where initiatives are being discussed in parallel for the protection of the marine environment, such as the planned event for the Aegean and Ionian sea parks.

The rescue-tug vessel Aegean Sea, 70 meters long, capable of firefighting, with a crew of 12 and capable of pumping 2,500 cubic meters of water per hour, arrived at the site around 17:00, and a specialized 10-member rescue team was deployed. The operation also involves two to three private tugs, as well as vessels and helicopters. The priority of the authorities is the safe towing of the vessel before it lists, while the port of destination has not yet been confirmed. The Ministry of Shipping conducted an operational teleconference with the participation of Rear Admiral Christos Kontoroukhas, head of the Hellenic Coast Guard, as well as coordinators from the fire service and rescue crews, concerning the fire’s progression, the situation from aerial and sea means, the rescue team’s actions, and measures for the safety of the vessel and protection of the marine environment.