If we look at the global maritime incident/accident trend, most accidents in 2016 are involved with containerships. May it be a fire or grounding, though we do not have an exact number, it is evident that containerships were involved in most cases.
Here is a case where a fire erupted aboard the 9,030 TEU container ship CCNI Arauco berthed at the port of Hamburg, has caused injuries to at least three workers. The 300 meter, Liberian flagged vessel caught fire in one of its cargo hold due to a welding work, which injured three workers, who were rushed for medical treatment after a rescue.
The crew started firefighting, but was unable to extinguish the flames and requested assistance from the local authorities. At the scene of the accident were dispatched more than 150 firefighters and several machines, which are trying to get control over the flames.
CCNI Arauco was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries in 2015 and is owned by German company NSC Holdings. The fire department said that the containers which are on fire were not loaded with dangerous materials. As a precaution authorities have warned residents and businesses in the area to close windows and doors due to thick smoke that was billowing from the ship.
“The flames are over 800 degrees and could tear container ship”, said the local Fire Department in official statement. “There is no danger for the population in vicinity. Residents should keep windows and doors closed yet up to the area Blankenese”, adds the statement.
As of yesterday, reports say that the fire on board of mega container ship CCNI Arauco is not yet extinguished. The burning containers are still smuggling and thick smoke continue to cover the vessel and container terminal in Hamburg. The three firefighting tugs stopped pouring the water over the aft section of the container ship, because cargo hold was flooded with 5,000 cbm, which cause problems for stability. The local authorities will start using fire extinguishing foam or to seal the hold and filling it with CO2 gas. It is not yet clear how the fire fighting will continue, due to immediate danger for the ship’s stability and strength.
The containers in the cargo hold, as well as aft deck might be considered as total loss, but further assessment will be done after complete extinguishing of the flames. According to company’s information the total value of the cargo on board of container ship CCNI Arauco is around 700 million EUR.
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Source: SHZ
