Maritime Salvage Teams Battle Fires on Containerships at Sea
Salvage teams are actively addressing two separate fires on containerships, with updates provided by Seaspan, owner of the Espirito Santo Express, and HMM. These incidents highlight the significant challenges the maritime industry faces regarding onboard fires. HMM confirmed that firefighting efforts on the HMM Platinum are in the final stages, with plans to move the vessel to a nearby port for further inspections once the fire is completely extinguished. All 24 crew members are reported safe, although the ship remains under "Restricted Manoeuvrability" and is moving at less than 1 knot due to adverse weather conditions.
The HMM Platinum, which departed from Kattupalli International Container Terminal in India on September 27 with approximately 2,300 TEU, experienced a fire south of Lavanono, Madagascar, earlier in the month. The vessel has been holding off the coast of South Africa for over two weeks, seeking a port of refuge. Meanwhile, salvage teams have reached the Espirito Santo Express, which was abandoned by its crew on October 15 while over 1,000 miles from Brazil. This ship, built in 2018 and capable of carrying 11,800 TEU, was operating under a charter with Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE).
Seaspan reported that the fire originated from cargo in the bay area, prompting immediate stabilization and firefighting measures. Hapag-Lloyd has informed its customers that the full impact of the incident on the vessel and its cargo is still being assessed. They reiterated the focus on managing the situation and ensuring the vessel’s stability, stating that detailed information regarding cargo damage is not yet available.
