The fire ravaged MSC Daniela has entered its third month of repairs in Shanghai, taking far longer to fix than spokespeople for the containerline had initially suggested it would need.
The 13,800 teu boxship suffered a fire on April 4 this year in its aft section off Sri Lanka. The ship continued to smoulder for weeks after the blaze was extinguished. MSC suspects shippers misdeclaring hazardous cargoes was the most likely reason for the blaze.
The ship was eventually able to make its own way to Shanghai, arriving on May 22, for what officials at the time said would be three weeks of repair work. As of today, MarineTraffic clearly shows this huge boxship still moored at China Shipping Industry’s Changxing yard.
The fire – caused most likely either by a non-declaration of IMDG cargo, or poor stowage of the same by the shipper – ripped through up to eight bays of the ship. The ship will likely need new lashing platforms, hatch covers and cell guides plus a significant electrical rewiring job.
MSC officials – as well as the Chinese repair yard – have declined to say when the ship will return to service.
