TWO seaman have been flown to hospital with serious burns after a boiler exploded on board a bulk carrier off Port Stephens this morning.
Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) were notified of the explosion onboard MV Cape Lotus about 3am this morning, an AusSAR spokeswoman said.
The two Filipino men, aged 51 and 31, were stabilised on board the ship while the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter raced to the scene, some 41 nautical miles east of Port Stephens.
An Ambulance Service of NSW spokeswoman said one man had suffered facial burns while the other suffered serious burns to his face and arms.
They were flown to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
The AusSAR spokeswoman said the bulk carrier was en
route to Rotterdam.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, as well as
Dutch authorities, have been notified of the incident and will investigate.