China Praises Swift Action After Fire on Container Ship

China’s Ministry of Transport has commended the rapid response to a fire that broke out on a foreign-flagged container vessel deep at sea. Thanks to a coordinated emergency effort, the blaze was contained, preventing damage to the ship and ensuring the safety of the crew.

 

The fire was first reported on July 28 aboard a large Liberian-flagged containership with 25 crew members on board. According to Xinde Marine News, the vessel in question is the Stratford , a 101,496 DWT container ship chartered by OOCL. Built in 2006 and operated by German company Oltmann, the ship has a carrying capacity of 8,500 TEU.

 

At the time of the incident, the Stratford was approximately 190 nautical miles northwest of Nansha district, near Hong Kong, en route from Shenzhen to Vietnam.

 

After receiving the distress call, the South China Sea Rescue Bureau – via the Maritime Rescue and Salvage Bureau – dispatched a patrol vessel, Nanhai Jiu 116 , to the scene. A rescue helicopter was also deployed to conduct an aerial assessment and provide live updates on the fire’s status.

 

The flames were initially localized to four containers near the bow of the ship. Once the patrol vessel arrived, a specialized firefighting team was put on board. The operation continued for roughly 20 hours. By the afternoon of July 30, temperatures in the affected containers had stabilized, and the fire was declared fully extinguished.

 

The ship remained under observation to ensure there were no flare-ups. With the situation under control, Nanhai Jiu 116 began escorting the vessel to safety. AIS data indicates the ship is currently sailing at about 5.8 knots and is expected to reach Vietnam by August 5.

 

China’s Ministry of Transport shared details of the operation to highlight the country’s commitment to maritime safety and its capability to manage emergencies even in remote areas of the South China Sea.

 

Source: The Maritime Executive

Pictures: The Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China