Minimal damage following ship fire

A full investigation is under way following a fire on board the seven-yearold Danish-built Safmarine Nomazwe. The vessel was at anchor in the roadstead, awaiting berthing, when an on-deck container filled with charcoal was reported to be emitting smoke at 10 pm last Wednesday. This was followed about two hours later by a further call of two more containers alight. A Transnet NPA marine pilot braved extreme winds after deciding, apparently of his own volition, to heed a call and bring the 3 700- TEU containership into the port of Cape Town last week. “The crew managed to contain the fire but the vessel was brought into the port (G-berth) at 4 am at the master’s request,” said NPA communications executive Coen Birckenstock. “The wind was blowing at something like 50 knots but the pilot heroically decided on his own to board a pilot boat and bring the vessel safely into port.” Nine containers, all filled with charcoal, were removed to the quayside as a full investigation was mounted by Safmarine, Samsa, and other relevant authorities. No one was injured and the Las Palmas-bound vessel suffered minimal damage, moving to the Eastern Mole for further inspection on Thursday afternoon. Victor Shieh, executive PR and communications for Safmarine Container Lines, says the results of the investigation on board the British-flagged vessel will be made known “at the appropriate time.”