Northern Volition Ablaze off Vietnam

A fire broke out on board the Portuguese-flagged containership Northern Volition off Vung Tau Town on the southern coast of Vietnam on Tuesday, local media reported.

The 221-m long vessel was carrying 900 containers when the fire started in two of them, filled with sugarcane dregs. The high temperature inside the container reportedly ignited the cargo.

The crew managed to contain the blaze until the Vung Tau maritime authorities and firefighting police got to the scene to put out the fire.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

Northern Volition, featuring 37,874 dwt, was en route from Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai when the fire started.

The vessel was forced to change its route and sail to Tan Cang-Cai Mep Port, Vung Tau Province, where it unloaded the damaged containers later that day and the authorities made sure that the rest of the cargo was not harmed.

Following the necessary inspection, Northern Volition continued its voyage to Shanghai.

Built in 2005, Northern Volition is owned and operated by German shipping company Norddeutsche Reederei.

World Maritime News Staff, Image: Youtube