Two container ships named HMM Platinum and Espirito Santo Express have caught fire in the South Atlantic Ocean, and rescue teams are currently working to extinguish the fire. HMM Platinum, owned by HMM, is currently in the final stages of firefighting and is scheduled to head to a nearby port for follow-up actions once this operation is completed.
Status of HMM Platinum
It has been reported that all 24 crew members of this ship are safe, but the ship remains in a "restricted movement" status and is moving at less than one knot. This ship, which departed from Kattupalli Container Terminal in India on September 27 with approximately 2,300 TEU of cargo, was en route to the port of Santos in Brazil. The fire on this ship started while it was located south of Luanda, Madagascar earlier this month.
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Reports indicate that this ship has been waiting for over two weeks off the east coast of South Africa and plans to head to a safe port. Despite efforts to reach a port in South Africa, adverse weather conditions have hindered this, and the ship currently remains at sea. Tugboats are also on standby as a precaution.
Fire on Espirito Santo Express
Meanwhile, the container ship Espirito Santo Express, owned by Seaspan, was abandoned by its crew on October 15 due to a fire and is currently located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This ship, which has a capacity of 11,800 TEU and was built in 2018, is now over 1,000 miles away from Brazil.
Seaspan has reported that smoke and then fire were observed from the cargo area of the ship. Active measures are being taken to stabilize the ship and contain the fire. Hapag-Lloyd has informed its customers that the full extent of this incident and its impact on the ship and cargo are still being assessed.
These incidents highlight the significant challenges faced by the shipping industry and underscore the need for improved safety measures and crisis management at sea.
