Gallery: Fire Breaks Out on Board Containership in Manila

A fire broke out on a Marshall Islands-flagged containership MV Cape Moreton on September 12th, while the ship was moored at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), Tondo, Manila.

Smoke was first detected billowing from freight containers on board the ship around 9:15 a.m, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Some 20 fire trucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and two ships with fire fighting capabilities, Coast Guard SARV-001 (BRP San Juan) and Coast Guard SARV 3502 (BRP Nueva Vizcaya), were sent  to the scene to help extinguish the fire.

There were no injuries reported to the all-Russian crew that was evacuated from the 38,882 DWT vessel by the firefighters that managed to board the ship.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, however; according to initial findings of the Manila Fire Department, reportedly there was an explosion inside the ship.

The Philippine Coast Guard said in a report that the fire had started in the cargo hold loaded with containers transporting sodium hydroxide.

The 2005-built containership, owned by Cape Moreton Shipping Co. Ltd, arrived at Manila last Friday morning.

According to the latest vessel tracking data from the Marine Traffic, the ship remains moored in Manila.

World Maritime News Staff; Images: PCG