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Fire extinguished on giant MSC boxship off Colombo

A fire that raged for 20 hours on the 14,000 teu MSC Daniela was finally extinguished yesterday morning, but the crew, who were evacuated, have not been allowed to return onboard for fear of the toxic fumes from the blaze.

Officials from MSC tell Splash none of the crew were injured in the accident, which took place off Sri Lanka and saw Indian navy vessels join their Sri Lankan peers in dousing the blaze.

“MSC is currently in discussion with the local authorities to berth the vessel at the appropriate time. Once the ship is considered safe, an investigation into the cause of the fire will be formally initiated,” a spokesperson for MSC told Splash.

The extent of the damage and cargo losses will not be known until the vessel has safely berthed and has undergone a thorough inspection. Customers with cargo onboard the MSC Daniela should contact their local MSC office.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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