A 64-year-old seafarer has suffered serious burns on a Mercosul containership off Brazil.

The man was taken to hospital in Santos after the incident on the 2,478-teu Mercosul Manaus (built 2009) on Tuesday night.

He sustained first and second degree burns to 70% of his body after a ruptured pipe released steam in the galley, fire officials said, according to the Globo daily.