Another Li-Ion cargo ship on fire
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A general cargo ship making a trans-Pacific crossing is reporting that it is battling cargo hold fires with a load of lithium-ion batteries aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center has instructed the vessel to proceed toward Dutch Harbor, Alaska in the ongoing situation. Resources are being assembled to help fight the fire when the vessel gets closer to Alaska.
The news outlet Must Read Alaska is reporting that a fire was initially discovered aboard the vessel on December 25 in the number 1 cargo hold. They are saying the suspicion is that heavy seas may have caused the fire to ignite, but the vessel was able to use its CO2 fire suppression system.
A second fire has now been reported aboard the ship in its number 2 cargo hold but according to the news outlet, the vessel has already exhausted its CO2 system. They are reporting that the crew is perimeter cooling the cargo holds. The captain has ordered the crew not to open the holds so that they remain sealed helping to contain and control the fire.
