The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has reported an incident that could have had catastrophic consequences at the Port of Colombo. A fire broke out on board the container ship “MSC CAPETOWN III “MSC CAPETOWN III”, berthed at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), but thanks to quick and coordinated action, the fire was controlled and extinguished without causing further damage.
About the burned container ship
The MSC CAPETOWN III, a vessel with 18 years of service, was undergoing unloading and loading operations when the fire started. The incident occurred in the 41/43 hatch area of the vessel, affecting an array of containers both below deck and on deck.
Although the fire resulted in an explosion, the port’s emergency team acted quickly, under the direction of the port captain, and managed to extinguish the fire, avoiding a major disaster.
The vesselwhich sailed under the Madeira flag, had arrived at the port from Singapore. Singapore and was part of the East African Service, known as the DAR ES SALAM SERVICE. At the time of the incident, it was discharging 995 containers and loading an additional 880 containers.
Immediate fire department response
SLPA port operations manager HJKU Kumara stressed the importance of the immediate response of the fire team and the collaboration of the port services. port services to bring the situation under control. He also mentioned that an investigation has already been launched to determine the cause of the fire and assess the condition of the affected cargo.
Importantly, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and security of vessels and cargo within its jurisdiction, assuring that they will continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations progress.
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Source and photos: Sri Lanka Ports Authority
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