AERIAL VIEWS OF BURNING SHIP WITH FIREMEN WORKING: AFTERMATH SCENES OF DAMAGE ON DECKS: SHIP SMOULDERING.




Initials GHB/N & N-TELE/CR/LD



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: POLICE AND FIRE INVESTIGATORS WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) PROBING THE FIRE ABOARD THE 5,204 - TON NORWEIGIAN FREIGHTER "DIANET", ANCHORED IN THE HUDSON RIVER OFF MANHATTAN, WHICH KILLED THREE CREW MEMBERS YESTERDAY.

ONE OF TWO OTHER CREWMEN INJURED IN THE BLAZE WAS REPORTED TO BE IN POOR CONDITION IN HOSPITAL.

THE FREIGHTER WAS TOWED TO THE BETHLEHEM SHIPYARD AT HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, LAST NIGHT FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE DAMAGE. INVESTIGATIONS WERE BEING CONDUCTED BY THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY POLICE. THE NORWEGIAN CONSULATE IN NEW YORK WAS ALSO HOLDING AN INVESTIGATION.

THE BLAZE WAS FOUGHT BY ABOUT 75 FIREMEN IN BELOW - FREEZING TEMPERATURES. ONE OF THE 27 PEOPLE ON BOARD WAS PULLED TO SAFETY THROUGH A NARROW PORTHOLE, AND OTHERS ESCAPED BY LEAPING INTO THE ICY WATER TO BE RESCUED BY FIRE TENDERS.

POLICE IDENTIFIED THE DEAD SAILORS AS TORBJORN GARDEN, FJALEC LINDROS AND HAGNE NILSEN. TWO SEAMEN WERE ADMITTED TO ROOSEVELD HOSPITAL AND 16 OTHERS WERE RELEASED AFTER RECEIVING FIRST AID.

POLICE SAID THE FIRE STARTED IN THE CREW'S QUARTERS AT ABOUT 4.15 AM ( 0915 GMT) AND SPREAD TO THE STERN SUPERSTRUCTURE. A SENIOR DETECTIVE AT THE SCENE SAID THAT A CHRISTMAS PARTY HAD BEEN HELD ABOARD A FEW HOURS EARLIER.

THE FREIGHTER, CARRYING A CARGO OF SUGAR, ARRIVED IN THE HUDSON RIVER FROM COLOMBIA ON DECEMBER 18TH.