Yesterday at approximately 5:30pm, the Gibraltar Port Authority was alerted to a plume of smoke visible in the Bay of Gibraltar. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

The Port’s Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) team promptly tracked  the source using its camera and sensor systems and identified the affected vessel as being  located in Spanish waters. The vessel had suffered an explosion just moments before.  

Gibraltar Port Authority immediately contacted the Spanish authorities to offer assistance. The  offer was acknowledged but declined, with confirmation that the situation was under control on  the Spanish side.  

The vessel, still emitting a visible plume of smoke, has since been towed into the Port of  Algeciras.  

HM Government of Gibraltar will continue to monitor the situation and remains available to  assist if required.