Fire continues to rage on Maersk Honam

Fire continues to rage on Maersk Honam
Sam Chambers March 9th, 2018 http://splash247.com/fire-continues-rage-maersk-honam/

Four crew remain missing in the Arabian Sea following Tuesday’s fire on the 15,000 teu Maersk Honam boxship. While search and rescue operations continue, chances of finding the missing four men alive are now deemed unlikely. A Thai crewmember died from burns on Wednesday, while the remaining 22 crew have been sent to Cochin in India. Some of the evacuated crew are suffering from toxic fumes from the fire.

The fire on the ship continues to rage, with an Indian Coast Guard vessel alongside trying to douse the inferno.

“While search operation continues the hope of finding our missing colleagues is fading. We are in contact with their families and they know that tragically, the time passed decreases the likelihood of finding their loved ones alive. Our thoughts and prayers go to them,” Søren Toft, Maersk’s chief operating officer said yesterday.

The nationalities of the four missing crewmembers are: two Filipinos, one South African and one Indian. All male.

The vessel is carrying a total of 7,860 containers, corresponding to 12,416 teu.

The Indian Coast Guard has reported that many of the boxes on fire contained flammable liquids and solids.

The fire has stretched to an area of around 100 m by 60 m of the ship, the coast guard said, while adding there was no sign of an oil spill.