Two injured in explosion on ship at Foynes Port in Limerick

The incident happened at Foynes Port, County Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson.

Two men were seriously injured in an explosion on a ship that was docked at Foynes Port, Co Limerick.

The incident occurred shortly after 7pm on Tuesday when the alarm was raised by crew members on the ship.

Gardaí and emergency services rushed to the Port as part of a major emergency response to the incident.

The HSE Air Ambulance was used to take one casualty to Cork University Hospital. It's understood the man suffered a head injury.

The other injured man was taken to University Hospital Limerick after suffering a chest injury.

Locals reported seeing large numbers of emergency service personnel around the ship, Bow Hercules, a registered oil/chemical tanker that had been moored at the port.

The 26,000-tonne vessel was built in 2017 and is sailing under the Norwegian flag.

The ship was still at the port last night and there were no visible signs of the vessel being in distress in the water.

In a statement, Shannon Foynes Port Company said: "Shannon Foynes Port Company can confirm that two men have been hospitalised flowing an accident on board a ship this evening at Foynes Port.

"Emergency services attended the scene and both men were removed to University Hospital.

"The cause of the accident is being investigated by the relevant authorities, while the matter on board the ship has made safe, with the Port due to resume operations tonight."

A Garda spokeswoman said Gardaí attended the scene “following a report of an incident on a ship in Foynes Port, Limerick shortly before 7pm”.

“Gardaí are assisting ambulance services at scene and dealing with a number of injuries,” the spokeswoman said.