Cargo Ship Resumes Voyage After Cargo Fire

Nearly eight weeks after first reporting a cargo fire aboard, the cargo ship (13,663 dwt) has finally resumed its voyage after securing its cargo and completing a Port state inspection, says an article published on maritime executive website.

Summary

• A general cargo ship operated by Taiwan’s Wisdom Line encountered a cargo fire while traversing the Pacific Ocean from Busan, South Korea to San Diego, California.
• The vessel was carrying large industrial lithium-ion batteries, and fires were reported in its cargo holds on December 25 and 28, believed to have been caused by cargo shifting during rough sea conditions.
• The crew managed to extinguish the first fire using the vessel’s CO2 fire suppression system but depleted its CO2 bottles in the process.
• When a second fire broke out, the vessel was directed by the U.S. Coast Guard to alter course for Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Initial Incident

A general cargo ship operated by Taiwan’s Wisdom Line, encountered a cargo fire while traversing the Pacific Ocean on its route from Busan, South Korea to San Diego, California. The vessel, registered in Panama, was carrying large industrial lithium-ion batteries, and fires were reported in its cargo holds on December 25 and 28, believed to have been caused by cargo shifting during rough sea conditions.

Response Efforts

The crew managed to extinguish the first fire using the vessel’s CO2 fire suppression system but depleted its CO2 bottles in the process. When a second fire broke out, the vessel was directed by the U.S. Coast Guard to alter course for Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Salvage and firefighting teams faced challenges reaching the vessel due to severe weather conditions.

Salvage And Inspection

Upon reaching Dutch Harbor, thermal imaging confirmed the fires were out, but concerns remained about potential reflash if the holds were opened. A Technical Expert Advisory Group provided consultation on managing the damaged lithium-ion battery cargo. After venting the cargo holds and installing an air circulation system, the vessel was permitted to dock at the Unalaska Marine Center for further assessment and repackaging of damaged battery components.

Recovery And Inspection

No cargo was offloaded in Dutch Harbor, but efforts focused on re-securing and inspecting the shifted and damaged cargo. Crews recharged and reinstated the onboard CO2 system, and the vessel underwent thorough inspection to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a clean inspection with no deficiencies recorded.

Resumption Of Voyage

Following completion of response operations and cargo management, the cargo ship resumed its voyage to San Diego on January 30, approximately a month after arriving in Alaska. The Unified Command managing the incident has stood down, but investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Conclusion

Despite the challenging circumstances and remote location, coordinated efforts between salvage teams, experts, and regulatory authorities ensured the safe management of the cargo fire incident aboard the cargo ship, facilitating its eventual resumption of voyage to its destination.

Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?

It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe

Source: maritime executive

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•