Emergency aboard "Purple Beach" in the German Bight

[Jens Boldt]

Last night the crew of general cargo Purple Beach (IMO 9138135) underway from Immingham to Brake with a cargo of fertilizer discovered smoke coming out of one of the cargo holds. The crew immediately used the fire extinguishing system aboard and closed off the cargo hold.

It is not yet clear whether there's a fire onboard or if it's a chemical reaction of the fertilizer. Today, on Tuesday afternoon, temperatures in the hold were very high. The situation is not yet under control. As measurements proved that there were harmful substances in the air the crew and rescue team were evacuated with helicopters.

According to Cuxhaven Central Command for Maritime Emergencies more than 20 people were brought to the hospital by way of precaution.

Central Command for Maritime Emergencies says the hold will be flooded.

At the moment Purple Beach is anchored 17 nm southwest of Helgoland, rescue vessels are in assistance.

Purple Beach on Shipspotting.com
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2205672

Report (in German) and a photo
https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/oldenburg_ostfriesland/Notfall-auf-Nordsee-Frachter,purplebeach100.html

[PHa]

UPDATE - PLEASE SEE REPORTS BELOW:

Thanks for your report,Jens! It is recommendable to use the reports of the Central command for maritime emergencies of Germany / Havariekommando, as stated here:

No. 1: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00178_2015.pdf
No. 2: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00179_2015.pdf
No. 3: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00180_2015.pdf
No. 4: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00181_2015.pdf
No. 5: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00182_2015.pdf
No. 6: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00184_2015.pdf
No. 7: http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00185_2015.pdf

More will follow.

Generally http://www.havariekommando.de/

Fact sheet:

Vessels position is 54.06109

[Jens Boldt]

Thanks for further info, Peter, and especially for the Havariekommando-link

Best regards,
Jens

[PHa]

New warnings from the "Havariekommando" released today: Bad smell of fertilizers in coastal areas coming from the smoke emitting vessel.

http://www.wsv.de/ftp/presse/2015/00181_2015.pdf

Regards Peter

[PHa]

- deleted by author -
Pls see below.

Regards Peter

[echobow]

Thank you Jens & Peter for informing about this accident, I just read the situation is going to unbend a little, although yet nobody is able to enter "Purple Beach".

On Wikipedia they state that the fertilizer was actually high-explosive ammonium nitrate. I somehow thought to have read this commodity was generally banned from German ports by not allowing either loading or unloading it, though. In fact it seems to have been a misread.

Cheers, David

[Jens Boldt]

Hi David, I really have no idea, if ammonium nitrate was banned from German ports. But on the other hand no report mentioned that Purple Beach is carrying illegal stuff, so I think it's ok.

Meanwhile the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies has said that there's no longer a risk of an explosion. Constant cooling of the ship's hull has massively decreased the smoke coming from the hold which is loaded with 5,000 t of Nitrophoska 15+15+15+2 S.

Still the cause of the accident is not yet clear...

As yet there are also no signs of air pollution which could be harmful to people.

Meanwhile all people that were taken to hospital initially have left the hospital.

Aboard Neuwerk the flooding of the hold is being prepared.

When the situation will be completely under control Purple Beach will be towed to a secure port. (Possibly Nordenham, according to NDR)

[PHa]

Good morning!

As per "Havariekommando" cargo is definitly

Nitrophoska

[Jens Boldt]

Latest news of the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies today:

The safety zone around Purple Beach was reduced to 2 nm.

Fire-fighting operations have stopped. Smoke erupting from the ship is minimal.

Adverse weather conditions at the moment (wind 8 Beaufort, 2 m waves) are preventing emergency forces to climb aboard though...