[270712.EN.SEA] Smouldering MSC Flaminia Fire Under Control While Under Tow To UK Coast

THE fire aboard the 6,732-TEU MSC Flaminia is under control with flames extinguished in its No 4, No 5 and No 6 holds with the vessel last reported under tow in relatively calm seas headed for the UK coast.

The tug Fairmount Expedition is towing the vessel, with its a 10-degree starboard list, which was bound for Antwerp from Charleston when the fire broke out on July 14 about 1,000 miles from Britain. It is now being watched by standby tugboats Anglian Soverign and Carlo Magno and was 320 nautical miles from Britain.

The boarding party has succeeded in reactivating the MSC Flaminia's own fire-fighting system and was also able to see the extent of the damage, which has destroyed cargo holds 5 and 6, along with hold 4 - where the fire originated, reports London's Containerisation International.

The German containership claimed the life of one crewman, but another is seriously injured and another is still missing. The remaining 18 crew and two passengers took sanctuary at Falmouth, Cornwall, escaping injury.

The vessel can only enter port when all fires are extinguished. It is unknown at this stage how many of the 2,876 TEU it is carrying have been salvaged. However, the calm conditions at sea eases the ships way to shore.

Source : HKSG.