A total of 198 containers onboard the ‘Yantian Express’ is estimated to be a total loss after the 7,510 TEU container ship sustained a major fire off Bermuda in early January. The ill-fated ship arrived in Freeport Bahamas last week, where she has berthed to undergo an inspection.
We remain in the process of diligently addressing all of the safety, logistical, operational, and other aspects arising from this casualty, and are pleased to report that significant headway has been made in that regard. Preparations have been underway with the local authorities, salvers and other interested parties to arrange for the discharge of all containers in the forward most portion of the vessel, in which the fire occurred,
….said ONE, the operating joint venture, in their latest update.
According to data provided by Richards Hogg Lindley (RHL), as General Average and Salvage Adjusters, the GA Surveyor has identified 198 containers that were most likely a total loss due to the fire. He has also identified an additional 460 containers that were stored in the affected area that require inspection.
Door end inspections of the 460 containers will take place in Freeport, but we do not know at this stage when discharge operations or surveys will begin. We suggest that surveyors representing any of these 460 containers get in touch with the GA Surveyor, Mr Gianluca Rolff of TMC.
The cargo in the 198 containers that has been determined by RHL to most likely be a total loss will not be inspected and sent for destruction once off loaded from the vessel.
The fire broke out on 3 January in one of the containers onboard the ‘Yantian Express’ approximately 1,015 miles northeast of Bermuda and spread to additional containers. The ship was en route from Colombo to Halifax via the Suez Canal, at the time of the incident. There were no fatalities.
