(7 Mar 2014) A Canadian refuelling ship disabled by an engine fire pulled into Pearl Harbor under tow on Thursday morning with nearly 300 sailors on board. US Navy tug boats guided the HMCS Protecteur to a pier after making a slow journey from Pacific Ocean waters north of Hawaii. The ship received help from the US Navy after the fire broke out last week, leaving 20 sailors with minor injuries, the Royal Canadian Navy said. The fire engulfed a large space, three or four stories high. The Canadian navy said a doctor treated sailors for dehydration, exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Sailors came off the ship having not shaved or showered in a week. The ship lost power amid the fire and did not regain it during the trip to Pearl Harbor. Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, leader of the Canadian Pacific Fleet, said the ship encountered "an absolute worst-case scenario" of a major fire on board a tanker in the middle of the ocean at night, which was then compounded by the power loss. "The leadership on board, the professionalism of the sailors and the courage displayed to get through this has been absolutely exceptional," he told reporters after greeting those on board the ship. Auchterlonie expressed his gratitude for the US Coast Guard and US Navy's help during the ordeal. The ship's captain Commodore Julian Elbourne said the main thing was that those on board have returned safely to shore. "The most important thing is that I left here last Thursday with 298 sailors and came home today with 298 sailors." The 44-year-old ship was on its way home from a three- to four-week deployment, he said. The Protecteur is a supply ship that refuels and provides food and parts to other navy vessels at sea. Earlier this week, an American guided-missile destroyer took 19 relatives of the Canadian crew back to Hawaii. The family members had been travelling with the Protecteur as part of a regular programme allowing relatives to join crews on return trips from long missions. The rest of the crew stayed with the Protecteur, except for one crew member who had cut his hand, Harrigan said. The tow was initially complicated by rough seas that caused the tow line to break on Sunday. But the deep-water ocean tug USS Sioux took over the towing, and the escort saw better conditions later in the week. The Protecteur was scheduled to be retired next year. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cbde06718df74d5a1596f971e11d6552

• published: 03 Aug 2015
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