Carriers Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE) have warned customers that the vast majority of cargo aboard the fire-hit containership Espirito Santos Express is expected to be either severely damaged or a total loss, nearly two weeks after the incident began in the South Atlantic.
In a customer advisory, Hapag-Lloyd said the severity of the incident and the extent of the reported fire damage had prompted it to inform customers without delay. The carrier added that considerable time would be required to bring the vessel to a port of refuge and conduct a detailed assessment of the damage.
Built in 2018 and owned by Seaspan Corporation, the 11,800-TEU containership was operating under charter to Hapag-Lloyd on a shared service with ONE.
The vessel’s 28-member crew abandoned ship on October 15, approximately 975 nautical miles northwest of Tristan da Cunha, following reports of fires and explosions on board. All crew members were rescued by the passing bulk carrier Aeolian Arrow.
However, the rescue operation ended in tragedy when the bulker’s chief officer was thrown overboard from the rescue boat. The boat was subsequently swamped and lost, and efforts to recover the missing officer were unsuccessful.
Both Hapag-Lloyd and ONE have informed customers that Seaspan advised them that the fire remained under control. Salvage teams, including personnel from SMIT, have reportedly reached the drifting vessel and are working to manage the situation.
However, as late as October 28, claims consultant WK Webster reported that it understood the vessel was still ablaze. The full details of the incident have not been disclosed, although Webster confirmed that fires and explosions had occurred aboard the ship.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. It has not been established whether the incident originated in the containers or elsewhere on the vessel, including the engine room. Misdeclared and improperly stowed dangerous goods remain a major fire risk aboard containerships, although there is currently no confirmation that dangerous cargo was involved in this incident.
The incident highlights the significant risks associated with fires aboard large containerships, where the location and nature of the fire, the presence of hazardous cargo and the challenges of firefighting at sea can complicate salvage operations and result in extensive cargo losses.
A detailed assessment of the vessel and its cargo will be possible only after it is brought to a safe port of refuge.