Maersk Line continues to fight box ship blaze

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — Maersk Line reports that the 6,800 TEU containership Maersk Kampala, situated south of the Suez Canal, continues to fight a fire in its two foremost cargo bays of the vessel.

Crew are all accounted for and safe in the accommodation area with no injuries reported.

Maersk Kampala

The fire began at approximately 21:00 on 28 August while the vessel was heading north towards the Suez Canal. It originated in one container at the bottom of a stack before spreading to a second container.

On Friday evening into Saturday late morning, says Maerk Line, weather conditions prevented firefighting tugs from getting close enough to have maximum effect. As a result the fire spread to several more containers but was contained in the two foremost bays.

Saturday and Sunday saw weather improve and firefighting tugs on scene have been able to continue soaking the area and have managed to reduce the number of containers still with fire to six, all contained in the same bays.

“Importantly,” says Maersk Line, “the firefighting team on board is also now well into the process of extinguishing the fire inside containers by cutting open the hot containers as well as those nearby and flooding them with water. To speed up this process, an additional firefighting team will come aboard this evening.”