Wood Chip Carrier Catches Fire Twice in Cape Town
Firefighters and salvors have introduced a big cargo hearth below management aboard a bulker on the port of Cape Town.
On Saturday, a fireplace broke out in a cargo of eucalyptus paper bales within the ahead maintain of the wooden chip provider Batavia Express. The Cape Town hearth division responded to the scene, and assisted by professional salvors from Smit, they set about extinguishing the blaze and preserving the remainder of the cargo. Fire-damaged paper bales have been pulled out of the hull, extinguished and landfilled, a fireplace division spokesperson advised native outlet IOL.
The undamaged cargo will probably be transferred to a close-by warehouse for non permanent storage. The scenario is below management, however the full salvage operation is anticipated to increase by means of this Friday.
According to specialist outlet Insurance Marine News, it’s the second time Batavia Express has had a cargo maintain hearth in lower than a month. In mid-September, whereas the ship was below approach from Santos to Qingdao, a fireplace broke out in one of many holds. Batavia Express needed to divert to the anchorage at Saldanha Bay, north of Cape Town, arriving Sept. 16. A staff of 10 native firefighters joined the ship to deliver the hearth below management, and the vessel was allowed to berth in Cape Town on Sept. 20. It was totally extinguished by Sept. 22.
AIS knowledge exhibits that Batavia Express has remained in Cape Town for the reason that finish of the earlier hearth.
At the time of her supply in 2013, the 70,000 dwt Batavia Express was the biggest purpose-built wooden chip provider on the earth. She is operated by a Singaporean agency and has maintained a clear port state management inspection report.