The ship is anchored several kilometers off the southern coast of Vancouver Island.
Victoria, British Columbia:
Canadian Coast Guard officials said Sunday that a container fire that broke out Saturday on a cargo ship carrying mining chemicals from British Columbia is smoldering and is under control.
Sixteen crew members were evacuated from the MV Jim Kingston on Saturday, while five remained on the ship to douse the fire.
The ship is anchored several kilometers off the southern coast of Vancouver Island. Officials said residents of the island were not in danger, and that commercial ships transit to the ports of Vancouver and Seattle remain uninterrupted.
Canadian Coast Guard Commander JJ Briquet said the company had indicated the fire had engulfed itself. Tug boats sprayed water around the fire area to stop the fire from spreading, and a helicopter flyover on Sunday gathered evidence that it worked.
“We can’t see any scorching or scorching in those surrounding containers, that’s a really good sign,” Brickett said. “The fire is smoldering as you’d expect, and we’re continuing to cool on both sides.”
The Coast Guard is asking all ships to stay at least two nautical miles apart, and the Ministry of Transportation has banned all aircraft, including drones, from flying within two nautical miles or below 2,000 feet above the ship.
Earlier on Sunday, Danaos Shipping Company, the company that manages the container ship, said in a statement that no casualties were reported.
Danaos said the fire has been brought under control and rescue and firefighting agencies have been brought in to ensure the safe return of the ship’s crew.
The crash comes as further inclement weather is expected in the region on Sunday and deliveries have been halted around the world amid a global shipping traffic jam.
Brickett said the ship expected to weather the storm from its anchorage, but tug boats are standing by and monitoring the ship’s move.
Canada’s Coast Guard said it is working with its US counterpart to track down 40 containers that fell overboard on Friday while experiencing inclement weather, saying they have provided a support for sailors. posed significant risk.
The Coast Guard is still tracking these containers, which are to be retrieved by a rescue company hired by the ship’s owners. Briquet said that at the moment none of them are going towards the shore.
“Mariners are advised to stay away from the area. There is currently no security risk to people on the coast, although the situation will be monitored,” the Coast Guard said on Saturday. The deck of the ship in the water.
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