Container Ship Fire Contained After 4 Days At Port Of LA, Salvage Work Progresses

Response teams under the Unified Command confirmed on Tuesday that the fire aboard the container ship ONE Henry Hudson at the Port of Los Angeles has been contained. The update came after the salvage master aboard the vessel reported at 9 a.m. that the blaze was no longer active.

Authorities said there will now be a monitoring period to ensure that no heat signatures or flare-ups appear. According to information provided by U.S. Coast Guard Incident Commander Capt. Stacey Crecy, the fire is considered contained, but some level of risk remains because the affected containers could not be opened to verify that the flames are fully extinguished.

Capt. Crecy said through the agency that precautionary measures are already in place to manage any issues that might arise.

The salvage firm DONJON-SMIT has taken temporary control of the vessel and is continuing salvage operations. The company, working with local partners, is reviewing a plan to bring the ship safely back to an approved facility within the port.

Unified Command will authorise a transit plan only if it does not compromise the safety of the community or the response teams.

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Officials said the stability of the vessel will continue to be assessed as the response moves into its next stages. Capt. Crecy conveyed through the command that, with active firefighting now halted, teams can begin preparing for the vessel’s safe return to the pier and the controlled removal of its cargo at the designated facility.

Authorities also clarified that no firefighting water has been released overboard. The vessel is operating its own fire pumps to support stand-by firefighting hoses, and any excess clean seawater in the system is being routed overboard to relieve pressure.

This water, officials said, has not come into contact with cargo or containers. All used firefighting water remains contained within the ship’s cargo hold and will be removed under Coast Guard supervision before being transported to a waste reception facility by barge or truck.

Los Angeles Port Police Department Captain Dan Cobos said through the Unified Command that all organisations involved, from salvage teams to supporting agencies, are coordinating to ensure the safety of the port, the surrounding community, and the response personnel.

Officials reported no signs of sheen around the vessel. Containment boom and response crews remain prepared in case their deployment becomes necessary.

Air quality continues to be monitored around the clock to assess any potential impact on workers or nearby neighbourhoods, and monitoring will continue during the ship’s eventual transit back to port.

The Coast Guard and the Port of Los Angeles Police Department continue to enforce the safety zone around the vessel, while a temporary flight restriction also remains in place.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the fire.

The Unified Command overseeing the response includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Los Angeles Police Department and a representative of the vessel, with the Los Angeles Fire Department continuing to provide support as required.

Reference: USCG

Source: Maritime Shipping News