The Canadian Coast Guard said it was monitoring a fire on a container ship off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia and working with the US Coast Guard to assess the situation.
“The Canadian Coast Guard received a report this morning from MV Jim Kingston that damaged containers on board had caught fire,” it said in a statement late Saturday.
NEW: The Canadian Coast Guard says six containers on board the MV Jim Kingston are on fire. 16/21 The crew was removed from the ship and moved to Ogden Point #VictoriaBC.
Latest photos and info tonight @globalBC news 11. pic.twitter.com/lECxg6zLdK— Global BC (@GlobalBC) 24 October 2021
The report said the vessel was carrying more than 52,000 kilograms of xanthates – chemicals used in the mining industry – including potassium amyl xanthate. Potassium amyl xanthate is considered an irritant and an environmental hazard.
Video obtained by Reuters shows fire in the water below the deck of the ship.
The Canadian Coast Guard said a joint agency response is being coordinated to provide assistance, adding that an assessment is being conducted to determine the dangers of contamination from containers.
Bulk carrier M/V Zim Kingston reported on Friday that it had encountered inclement weather west of the Juan de Fuca Strait. The United States Coast Guard said in a tweet that about 40 containers from the ship had fallen into the water.