More than a week after there were reports of a cargo fire aboard a vessel transporting lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific, the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska reports the response is still underway to ensure the safety of the vessel. While the fire was believed to have been extinguished by the ship by the time it reached Dutch Harbor, Alaska on December 30, the concern remains for the potential of a reflash.
The vessel, the Genius Star XI (13,663 dwt), is a small handy size bulker owned by Taiwan’s Wisdom Marine Lines. It was initially held outside the Dutch Harbor area while the first survey was undertaken with images not recording heat in the cargo holds. The vessel was moved and permitted to anchor in Broad Bay, although under USCG orders the engines were being kept warm and the bridge manned in case the vessel needed to be repositioned if the fire reignited. At the recommendation of an Alaska marine pilot and the…
