The fire onboard Hapag-Lloyd’s 7,500 teu containership Yantian Express is still burning, and another two tugboats have been deployed to assist with firefighting and towage operations for the vessel, which caught fire on January 3.
According to the US Coast Guard, two anchor handling tugs – the Atlantic Enterprise, owned by US company Donjon Marine, and the Boskalis-owned Sovereign have sent to the scene, joining the efforts of Smit Nicobar and Maersk Mobiliser.
Joshua Canup, an official at US Coast Guard says the ship remains about 1,700 kilometres southeast of Halifax and it’s not yet clear when the new tugs will arrive.
Hapag-Lloyd said last week that the fire was largely under control and five crew had returned to the ship to assist salvage operations. The company also reported massive cargo damage onboard the vessel.
Currently the vessel is under tow to Halifax of Canada at slow speed.
