Hapag-Lloyd, the fifth largest container shipping line in the world by market share, has said the fire on the deck of the ‘Yantian Express’ has been brought under control.
The fire broke out on January 3 2018 as the 7,510 TEU vessel was 650 nautical miles from the Canadian coast – it was on its way from Colombo to Halifax via the Suez Canal.
Having started on deck it soon spread to the containers, but the vessel was safely evacuated with all the 15 seafarers and eight officers unharmed.
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In its latest statement on the fire, Hapag-Lloyd said five crew members have been safely transferred from the ocean-going tug ‘Smit Nicobar’ back onto the vessel, and that it is currently being towed safely at speed by the ‘Maersk Mobiliser’.
A third ocean-going tug is on its way to the ‘Yantian Express’ and will begin activities on January 13. Furthermore, Hapag-Lloyd has reiterated that it is too early to determine the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
