THE 7,510-TEU Yantian Express that
has been burning in international waters off Canada's east coast since January
3 now appears headed for the Bahamas instead of Halifax, its original
destination, reports The Canadian Press.
The German-flagged Hapag-Lloyd ship
was travelling to Halifax from the Suez Canal, when the fire started. The blaze
was brought under control by ocean-going tugs equipped with high-powered water
cannons.
Satellite tracking shows the smouldering, 320-metre ship is
being slowly towed to the southwest, travelling about 130 kilometres per day.
No one was hurt after the fire broke out as the ship sailed
about 1,900 kilometres southeast of Halifax, but the vessel's 22 crew were
evacuated from the ship as the fire grew and the weather turned ugly.
Peter Ziobrowski, the
blogger behind the Halifax Shipping News, says satellite data indicate the two
tugs pulling the stricken ship have plotted a course to Freeport on Grand
Bahama Island, which has a substantial container terminal.
Mr Ziobrowski says photos of the ship and information
provided by its owner, Hapag Lloyd of Germany, suggest the fire has destroyed
many containers on the ship's deck.
"It looks like the centre of those front four stacks
have collapsed," he told CP. "What you have there is a pile of
smouldering cargo and containers. And the hold below is going to be heat
damaged and probably filled with water."
The company has confirmed all cargo in the ship's first 12
bays, and some of the cargo in the two holds beneath those bays, have been
affected by the fire.
"Damage caused by smoke, heat and water in adjacent
areas is possible," the company said in a statement on its website, adding
that many other containers with refrigeration units have been switched off.
Company spokesman Tim Seifert said there's no estimated time
of arrival in Halifax or any other port, though he confirmed the ship was
headed southwest "towards more favourable weather conditions."
"At this time, it is not yet possible to make a
precise estimate of any damage to Yantian Express or its cargo," the
company said. "This can only be more clearly assessed once the vessel
reaches a port."
Five of the ship's 22 crew members, including the captain,
have returned to the ship with some salvage experts, Mr Seifert said. The other
crew members were recently picked up by another vessel, and they have since
been flown to their home ports.
Mr Ziobrowski said it Hapag-Lloyd has dispatched the 5,042-TEU
Shanghai Trader to pick up the cargo that can be salvaged.
Source : HKSG / Photo : The Maritime Executive.
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