Following the recent fire incident onboard Zim Kingston containership, Canadian Coast Guard informed that firefighting tugboats continue to operate to prevent renewed flareups.
To remind, the containership Zim Kingston lost 40 containers overboard on October 22, off the Juan de Fuca Strait, between Canada and the US south of Vancouver Island. In fact, the container ship caught fire, while 16 crew members were evacuated and brought to Breakwater District.
After the incident, DANAOS Shipping managers of Zim Kingston, received permission by the Canadian Coast Guard to allow the boarding of technical experts from the company as well as two marine firefighters.
During a media briefing Tuesday, the federal incident commander with the Canadian Coast Guard said the immediate concern is stabilization on the ship.
#CCGLive : 6 firefighters were able to board the #ZimKingston last night as well as 7 crew from the ship. The Salvage Master and team will assess the situation today and estimate it may take several days to fully suppress smoldering and fires inside the containers. pic.twitter.com/aV4wU9NYEC
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) October 26, 2021
What is more, the Coast Guard informed that at the time the MV Zim Kingston was carrying more than 52,000 kilograms of xanthates, which includes potassium amylxanthate, housed in two of the containers that were on fire aboard the ship.
Once the fire is fully extinguished, salvage experts will secure the containers and environmental experts will monitor this work in order respond to any potential marine pollution.
Concluding, the company said it has been working closely with local authorities and following all actions necessary to mitigate the consequences of the incident.
