Two men sustained serious injuries in an explosion aboard a ship docked at Foynes Port, County Limerick.
The incident occurred shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, prompting an alarm raised by crew members onboard the vessel.
Gardaí and emergency services responded rapidly to the Port as part of a significant emergency operation.
The HSE Air Ambulance transported one casualty, reportedly with a head injury, to Cork University Hospital.
The second injured man was transported to University Hospital Limerick, having suffered a chest injury.
Residents reported a heavy presence of emergency personnel around the Bow Hercules, an oil/chemical tanker registered and moored at the port.
The 26,000-tonne vessel, built in 2017, sails under the Norwegian flag.
The ship remained at the port overnight, with no outward signs of distress apparent.
Shannon Foynes Port Company released a statement confirming the incident: “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 stated that 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 added.
