A 54,000-ton container ship experienced a fire at sea and was directed toward Cape Town’s waters. With the fire raging inside the hull, the ship’s captain sealed the compartment.
On 19 September, the vessel arrived at Cape Town’s port, but due to the uncontrolled fire, entry was denied, and it remained anchored in the bay.
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The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue department assembled a 10-member crew equipped with basic firefighting gear, breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras to be transported to the burning ship.
Despite challenging conditions with large swells, they boarded the container ship using a 10-meter rope ladder, carrying all their gear with them.
Once below deck, the sealed compartment was opened, allowing firefighters to enter the densely packed area. Inside the 215-meter-long vessel, they approached the source of the fire, applied water to the affected area, and quickly withdrew before resealing the compartment.
As the water reached the heat source, it turned into steam. When it was confirmed that the internal temperature had significantly decreased, the Ports Master authorised the distressed vessel’s entry into the harbour on Thursday.
With a full complement of firefighting equipment waiting at the dock, the container vessel anchored at Cape Town’s port, and firefighters boarded the ship. They used aerial firefighting equipment to apply a concentrated mixture of compressed foam to extinguish the fire within the hull.
Firefighting efforts continued throughout the night until the fire was completely extinguished. One firefighting vehicle remained on-site as the extent of internal damage was assessed.
The 54,000-ton container ship had departed from Brazil on 2 September and was bound for Hong Kong when the fire erupted in its densely packed hull.
Unfortunately, one of the firefighters suffered severe smoke inhalation at sea earlier in the week and was urgently transported to Christian Barnard Hospital. Although the firefighter is now in stable condition, they continue to receive medical care.
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Picture: Alderman JP Smith / facebook