Mar.26--THE 15,000-TEU Maersk Honam that caught fire on March 6 off Oman with the loss of five men, is being towed to Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"Based on information at hand, MSC expects a substantial proportion of the cargo located behind the ship's accommodation area should be in sound condition," said Maersk 2M alliance partner MSC in a customer advisory.
"Unfortunately, we must assume, based on the details to date, that most containers located in front of the accommodation area are damaged by fire, heat or the water used to fight the fire," it said.
Investigations into the accident continue, reported Singapore's 24/7. The Indian Coast Guard, which was one of the first to arrive on the scene, said dangerous goods being carried onboard were the most likely cause of the blaze on the one-year-old giant ship.
As a precautionary measure, Maersk has stopped stowing dangerous goods by the accommodation block and engine casing across its box fleet.
(Source:shippingazette)