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« on: April 06, 2006, 08:15:22 PM »
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.
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