Shipping line Hapag Lloyd has managed to bring an on-board fire under control after smoke started billowing out of a container carried on board the 7510-TEU-vessel shortly after New Year’s day.
The Yantian Express was on its way from Colombo in Sri Lanka via the Suez Canal to Halifax on the Canadian coast when a fire broke out in one of the containers, quickly spreading to adjacent cargo.
Early extinguishing efforts had to be abandoned when inclement weather forced fire fighters under cover.
According to reports the 320m-long vessel was sailing around 650 nautical miles off the Canadian coast and Hapag Lloyd hasn’t been able to accurately assess the extent of the damage.
It has, however, confirmed that the crew of eight officers and 15 seafarers are unharmed.
