The U.S. Coast Guard announced that active firefighting operations have concluded aboard the containership One Henry Hudson, which experienced a fire while moored at the Port of Los Angeles last Friday. U.S. Coast Guard Captain Stacey Crecy, the Incident Commander, indicated that although the fire is contained, a waiting period is necessary to monitor for any potential re-flashes. Because inspectors could not access the containers to confirm that the fire is fully extinguished, some risk remains, but measures have been established to address any arising issues.
The fire broke out in inaccessible lower-deck compartments, prompting the safe evacuation of all 23 crew members without injuries. The response involved nearly 200 firefighters from Los Angeles and Long Beach, alongside support from the Coast Guard and Port Police. A mid-ship explosion on Friday knocked out the vessel’s power and forced firefighters to combat the flames from the pier. Following hazmat concerns, Unified Command ordered the vessel to be moved offshore, and by Saturday morning, it was anchored one mile from Angel’s Gate Lighthouse for further cooling and suppression operations.
The salvage company DONJON-SMIT is now in charge of the vessel and is formulating a plan to safely transport it back to the Port of Los Angeles. Captain Crecy noted that with firefighting operations complete, attention can shift to safely offloading the cargo at an approved facility. Throughout the incident, safety measures have been prioritized, with no firefighting water discharged into surrounding waters. Air quality monitoring remains ongoing, showing readings within safe limits.
The Coast Guard and Port Police are enforcing a safety zone around the vessel, with a temporary flight restriction and a half-mile safety perimeter in place. Additionally, salvors are addressing flooding in cargo hold 03, which is estimated to be 80% flooded due to firefighting efforts. The incident led to temporary disruptions at some container terminals and road closures, as investigations by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to determine the fire’s cause.
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