July 9, 2010 at 9:41 pm
A hazardous container caught fire yesterday on the Charlotte Maersk in the Malacca Strait. Malaysia sent ships and a Canadair fire bomber to extinguish the fire. Photos in article.
By: Newforest - 21st July 2010 at 08:04
The fire was finally extinguished after almost two weeks. The ship is now berthed in Malaya for repairs and removal of the 150 destroyed containers. The Charlotte is being replaced by the Maersk Brooklyn which was the last ship that had been laid up in Loch Striven.
By: Newforest - 15th July 2010 at 21:27
Probably for the same reason that all fire engines don’t use water solely, do they! 😉
By: hampden98 - 15th July 2010 at 19:30
Why don’t they fit ships with a few high pressure water pumps.
After all they are surrounded by water and if on fire could just rig up and point some hoses at it.
Not like they are going to run out of water.
By: springers - 10th July 2010 at 22:30
But it makes one wonder what they were shipping that caught fire? Because of someone’s negligence perhaps, a whole bunch of people’s stuff destroyed.
Could be simply spontaneous combustion,hazardous cargos have to be carefully segregated,in the UK we used to have the ‘Blue Book’ to refer to,now there are numerous IMO regulations to refer to.I can remember carrying a very greasy type of wool from Australia which had to be carried on deck due to the fire risk,pre container days of course.I’m showing my age.
Colin.
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2010 at 22:23
Yeah, I suppose that since Hazmat must be carried the containers should be ejectable. “Ejection seats” for container ships. I’m off to the patent office….
By: Newforest - 10th July 2010 at 22:02
Could be anything chemical. In my experience the potentially dangerous containers are usually in the bow of the ship or certainly easily accessible in the event of an ‘event’. This ship has a capacity of over 8000 containers and was built in 2002.
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2010 at 21:48
But it makes one wonder what they were shipping that caught fire? Because of someone’s negligence perhaps, a whole bunch of people’s stuff destroyed.
By: Newforest - 10th July 2010 at 21:48
Too quick for my edit! :p
http://www.dolphin-maritime.com/casualty-news/2010/07/09/charlotte-maersk.html
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2010 at 21:46
Pardon the pun!
By: Newforest - 10th July 2010 at 21:45
The fire is in its second day and still not fully contained.:(
http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2010/07/09/hot-times-on-the-charlotte-maersk/
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2010 at 19:49
Good use for firebombers!