Gran Canaria
Bodega four of the MV Cheshire loaded with 40,000 tons of fertiliser continues burning - specialist fire technicians on extinguishing fertiliser have arrived on the vessel to survey the situation
Aug 16, 2017 - 2:26 PM
A British cargo ship remains adrift and alight further from the Canaries
Bodega four of the MV Cheshire loaded with 40,000 tons of fertiliser continues burning - specialist fire technicians on extinguishing fertiliser have arrived on the vessel to survey the situation
Aug 16, 2017 - 2:26 PM
The shipowner ordered the specialists to attend the fire which started last weekend after the temperature inside the hull of the cargo vessel increased, for reasons under investigation.
A Spanish Maritime Rescue ship remains in the area to control the evolution of the fire and its consequent effects, which since Monday has been drifting after the 24 member crew were evacuated from the poisonous gases originating from the ammonium nitrate in the hold - reports the vessel has sunk appear unfounded.
The owner of the vessel, Bibby Line Limited, said yesterday the decision to abandon ship at the south of the Canaries was decided after large plume of yellow smoke provoked by a chemical reaction consisting of toxic gases was threatening those on board as the wind had dropped. Then two planes from Maritime Rescue rescued the crew who were taken to the Gran Canaria airport.
A spokesman for the company, explained the accident happened early on Saturday when the temperatures in bodegas 4 and 5 started reaching abnormally high levels.
The Capitan placed the facts to the Maritime Captaincy, which determined it’s current course should continue to the south of Gran Canaria to limit affecting the archipelago.
The Cheshire, was sailing to Thailand to unload the 40,000 tons of fertiliser stored in her five bodegas, and was expected to have a stop-over in Puerto de la Luz last Sunday to refuel, but instead it had to abandon the operation.
The specialist are coming from Gibraltar and Holland and are employed by the US company Resolve Marine, which is experienced in any type of maritime disaster. Famous for re-floating Costa Concordia which sank in January 2012 off Italy. The Norwegian multinational Yara, owner of the cargo, also offered assistance to control the fire and one of their technicians has arrived on the island to direct the damping down operation, according to Bibby Line Limited.

![]() MV Cheshire - photo www.laopinion.es
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A Spanish Maritime Rescue ship remains in the area to control the evolution of the fire and its consequent effects, which since Monday has been drifting after the 24 member crew were evacuated from the poisonous gases originating from the ammonium nitrate in the hold - reports the vessel has sunk appear unfounded.
The owner of the vessel, Bibby Line Limited, said yesterday the decision to abandon ship at the south of the Canaries was decided after large plume of yellow smoke provoked by a chemical reaction consisting of toxic gases was threatening those on board as the wind had dropped. Then two planes from Maritime Rescue rescued the crew who were taken to the Gran Canaria airport.
A spokesman for the company, explained the accident happened early on Saturday when the temperatures in bodegas 4 and 5 started reaching abnormally high levels.
The Capitan placed the facts to the Maritime Captaincy, which determined it’s current course should continue to the south of Gran Canaria to limit affecting the archipelago.
The Cheshire, was sailing to Thailand to unload the 40,000 tons of fertiliser stored in her five bodegas, and was expected to have a stop-over in Puerto de la Luz last Sunday to refuel, but instead it had to abandon the operation.
The specialist are coming from Gibraltar and Holland and are employed by the US company Resolve Marine, which is experienced in any type of maritime disaster. Famous for re-floating Costa Concordia which sank in January 2012 off Italy. The Norwegian multinational Yara, owner of the cargo, also offered assistance to control the fire and one of their technicians has arrived on the island to direct the damping down operation, according to Bibby Line Limited.

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