The MV Basra II, which plies the
Indian Ocean waters, was consumed by a fire, said to have started from the kitchen.
The cargo ship burnt down at Mombasa's Old Port as it prepared to sail to Kismayo Port in Somali.
The Standard reported that the vessel's owner, Hassan Hash, said that the ship's goods compartment was laden with mattresses, tea and coffee destined for Somali.
More destruction was, however, averted when a fisherman spotted fire from the burnt ship and pulled the vessel from two other larger ones, MV Ronja- Zanzibar and MV Clanita, that had docked by its side.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) deployed one of its multipurpose tugboats, MV Kiboko, which is fitted with fire fighting equipment after it became apparent that fire tenders from the authority that had been driven from the main port area could not access the burning vessel.
Another tugboat for pollution control, MV Fagio, was also moved to the scene to help clean up the area, which is also a popular fishing and swimming spot for locals.
The burnt vessel sunk moments after fire was extinguished.
Source: All Africa