Reports have gained an inside look at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s investigation of an Antarctic ship fire. 

Newly uncovered documents shed light on the harrowing experience of a crew aboard an Antarctic resupply ship, the MPV Everest, as they faced the possibility of abandoning the vessel during a fire. 

The incident, which occurred on April 5, 2021, while the ship was en route from Antarctica to Hobart, had the crew uncertain of their fate in the face of the inferno. 

The ship, battling six-metre swells in the treacherous Southern Ocean, was more than 1,000 nautical miles away from the nearest research station.

Records obtained under Freedom of Information by the ABC allegedly reveal the immediate aftermath of the incident. 

According to the incident timeline prepared by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the crew notified authorities about the fire approximately 20 minutes after it broke out. The situation quickly escalated as the crew expressed uncertainty about containing the fire and whether they would have to abandon the ship. Tension mounted as the crew activated the fire suppression system while awaiting further instructions.

Onboard, crew members prepared firefighting equipment, while expeditioners hurriedly gathered at muster points carrying survival bags and immersion suits. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) contemplated dispatching an aircraft for rescue purposes. 

Ultimately, the crew's immense efforts and the ship's water mist system helped subdue the fire. Crew members wearing breathing apparatus entered the engine room and confirmed the blaze was extinguished. 

However, significant damage was inflicted upon the engine room, and two watercraft on the deck were destroyed. 

The captain, cautiously optimistic, aimed to outrun an approaching storm front with 15-metre swells. Still, concerns over the ship's compromised electrical supply led to a diversion to Fremantle in Western Australia, where the vessel safely arrived on April 13.

The incident has raised questions about safety precautions and the response of authorities. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been investigating the incident for the past two years and is expected to release its final report soon. 

The Australian Antarctic Division has asserted that safety remains its top priority and refuted claims made by the Community and Public Sector Union regarding safety concerns raised by expeditioners.