MOL INITIATIVE on fire

[portagent]

good day all,

rumours say that MOL INITIATIVE (IMO 8702915/ 3.780 TEU) caught fire off Hokkaido/Japan.

Any detailed information available ?

[Phil English]

Klaus, the following from our sources:

MOL ship abandoned
 
 
The crew of the MOL Initiative have abandoned ship after a long battle to fight an engine room fire was lost.

All 26 seafarers from the containership have been rescued by a Japanese Coast Guard helicopter some 45 km off Hokkaido.



The MOL Initiative trades on Mitsui OSK Lines Europe - North America - Asia service.The crew were taken off the 3,780-teu MOL Initiative (built 1988) after struggling for 18 hours to bring the fire under control.

Initial efforts to control the blaze by pumping carbon dioxide into the engine room appeared to be successful, but hours later the external wall temperature of the compartment increased and smoke began to reach the crew accommodation.

Mitsui OSK Lines said the crew had been taken off the vessel as safety of the Russian, Ukrainian and Filipino seafarers was the top priority

The ship which was on a voyage from Oakland to Tokyo is currently being observed by a Coast Guard vessel with further relief craft on the way.

The shipowner said it was investigating the cause of the fire and had established an emergency task force. No oil pollution has been reported from the vicinity of the MOL Initiative.
 
++++++

Phil

[portagent]

thks, Phil.

[Phil English]

Latest info is that the fire is out and the vessel is being towed to Hakodate. Damage apparently confined to machinery spaces.

Phil

[Peter]

Lloyds List : MOL INITIATIVE (PANAMA)

Thursday April 06 2006  
 
London, Apr 5 -- All 26 seafarers on board the MOL-operated c.c. MOL Initiative escaped without injury after a fire broke out in the engine-room off Hokkaido, Japan, on Monday. No oil spill or leakage has been reported. The fire was discovered around 0523 hrs on Monday as the ship sailed from Oakland, California, to Tokyo. The fire was brought under control by pumping CO2 into the engine-room. However, at 1130 hrs the engine-room's external wall temperature increased and smoke reached the crew quarters. MOL asked the First Regional Japan Coast Guard to evacuate the crew. At 1640 hrs yesterday everyone on board was evacuated by helicopter to the patrol vessel which was dispatched to the scene. A coastguard vessel is observing the containership and relief boats are on their way to the site. The emergency task force, headed by the MOL president Akimitsu Ashida, has been established. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. In the latest announcement from MOL, deputy general manager Hidenori Oonuki said that smoke was still rising out of the engine-room but that a fire-fighting vessel was due on the scene later in the evening. The vessel is carrying 3,300 teu. A number of the containers are being carried for APL and Hyundai Merchant Marine. MOL Initiative is registered in Panama.

[Peter]

Lloyds List : London, Apr 6 -- Following navigation warning issued today: C.c. MOL Initiative is under tow off south coast of Hokkaido. Length of tow about 530 metres in an area between lat 41 32N and 41 38N, and long 140 33E and 140 39E. (See issue of Apr 6.)