Charlotte Maersk containership fire off Port Klang `contained`

DENMARK`s Maersk Line has said the fire aboard the 8,194-TEU Charlotte Maersk in the Malacca Strait "appears to have been contained and under control".

Said the company: "To assist in this work a team of eight fire fighting experts and one marine chemist is en route. Already on board is a salvage master. Our next step is to plan the extinguishing of the fire at a safe distance from the bridge and crew accommodation."



Early reports indicate that the blaze started from a rogue hazardous box, The blaze comes a year after the 6,500-TEU MOL Prosperity caught fire in Hong Kong`s Lamma Channel.



The fire started about 9pm Wednesday, as it steamed in the Malacca Strait 60 miles from Malaysia`s Port Klang, the ship`s last port of call.



Maersk said it could not "speculate on when the situation will be resolved and the fire extinguished. Our priority remains the continued safety of the crew, vessel and cargo, and we will take the time needed to ensure a successful resolution of the situation on board the Charlotte Maersk. The fire is contained to the foredeck, in a safe distance from the bridge and crew accommodation."



A Canadian-made Bombardier water bomber, designed to fight forest fires, attempted to suppress the blaze. Maersk said the 21-man crew are assisting in the fire fighting, and will continue to cool the fire source`s surroundings to prevent the fire from spreading.



The Charlotte Maersk was built in 2002 and is deployed in Maersk Line`s Asia/Europe network. At the time of the incident it had left Port Klang and was en route to Salalah, Oman.



Two Malaysian Coast Guard vessels are at the scene and continue assisting in fire fighting, the company said. One tug arrived Thursday evening local time and has also assisted. Another tug arrived Friday morning local time and is standing by on scene, and two additional tugs are en route to assist are expected to arrive Friday afternoon.