Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published Jun 24, 2022 12:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

Firefighters in Belgium are struggling to put out a stubborn cargo fire on a bulker docked at the port of Ghent. They expect the fire will burn for at least 24 hours and possibly longer while warning residents and drivers to be cautious due to the thick smoke in the area.

The bulker Lowlands Mimosa is docked at the Sifferdok in Ghent. The 63,939 dwt vessel is managed by CLdN Cobelfret and reported loaded with a cargo of scrap metal. The bulker is 655 feet long and registered in Panama.

The local fire brigade received reports of the cargo fire at around 11:00 p.m. Thursday, June 23. Arriving at the port they found large quantities of smoke billowing from the hold of the vessel blanketing the port and spreading into the surrounding area. Warnings were issued for drivers to proceed with caution on local roads as well as for residents to close their windows due to the level of smoke.

The crew of the vessel had attempted to fight the fire before calling for assistance. One crewmember was taken to a local hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. 

Firefighters reported that their work was being complicated by the position of the cargo in two holds aboard the ship. They were concerned with the vessel’s stability with a spokesperson reporting that they were pumping water on the fire but being forced to stop to pump water out of the ship’s holds as well. 

By Friday morning, the firefighters were reporting that they believed the fire was under control and they had brought in a crane to begin removing the scrap metal to the dock as part of the fire fighting effort. Two firefighters have received minor injuries and were also taken to the local hospital.  

Published Jun 24, 2022 3:20 PM by The Maritime Executive

Matson Navigation is moving forward with a plan to retrofit one of its large containerships for LNG-fueled operations making it one of the first shipping companies to pursue the conversion of their existing ships. MAN Energy Solutions reports that it has signed a contract for the retrofit of the main engine aboard the 2018-built Daniel K. Inouye along with an option for an unnamed second vessel, likely her sistership Kaimana Hila also built at Philly Shipyard and delivered in 2019....

Published Jun 24, 2022 1:31 PM by The Maritime Executive

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced participation in a second project to develop an ammonia-fueled vessel. Working with Japanese shipbuilders Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding they are targeting 2026 for the introduction of the vessel, which they expect will be the first net zero-emission ocean-going vessel under MOL’s long-term environmental plan. The new joint project announced between the three companies is aimed at developing and building an ocean-going liquefied gas carrier that will use ammonia as its main...

Published Jun 24, 2022 12:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

Firefighters in Belgium are struggling to put out a stubborn cargo fire on a bulker docked at the port of Ghent. They expect the fire will burn for at least 24 hours and possibly longer while warning residents and drivers to be cautious due to the thick smoke in the area. The bulker Lowlands Mimosa is docked at the Sifferdok in Ghent. The 63,939 dwt vessel is managed by CLdN Cobelfret and reported loaded with a cargo of scrap metal....

Published Jun 24, 2022 1:49 AM by The Maritime Executive

The board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the world's largest shipowners' association, has appointed Emanuele Grimaldi as its new chairman of the board. He takes over from chairman Esben Poulsson, who has helped guide ICS since 2016. Grimaldi is a former president of Confitarma and the European Community Shipowners Associations (ECSA), as well as president of Grimaldi Euromed. Working alongside ICS Secretary General Guy Platten, he will work with ICS' membership on the key issues of the day,...

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