On the morning of May 27, a barge caught fire on the Nieuwe Maas River while berthed at Maashaven in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The fire ignited in a barge containing household waste resulting in clouds of smoke from the hold. Area residents were asked to keep windows and doors closed from the smoke. The local fire brigade and the 28 meter long fireboat RPA 10 were called to the scene. Their efforts got the fire under control a short time later and the blaze was extinguished within a few hours.
Photo: rijnmond.nl
Photo: dehavenloods.nl
Photo: ad.nl
No reports of injuries. Damage to the barge from the fire was not disclosed. The barge would be later towed to Rozenburg where the waste cargo is to be unloaded.
On the afternoon of May 15, the 190 meter long, 58096 dwt bulk carrier Trade (IMO: 9425942) caught fire while berthed at Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Trade was moored at the scrap terminal when a cargo of scrap caught fire in cargo hold #4. The local fire brigade was called out with multiple fire engines and fire boats responding. The burning scrap was hauled out of the cargo hold onto the quay where fire fighters would extinguish it while fireboats attempted to keep the bulk carrier’s hull cool.
Unfortunately, the time to extinguished the blaze was a slow and laborious process. The fire could not be contained before it had spread into cargo hold #3. Due to the high temperature, the #3 cargo hold hatches failed and eventually collapsed into the hold itself. This prevented fire fighters to remove the scrap using a crane from that hold.
Reports state the fire spewed out large quantities of smoke that drifted over the center of the city. Authorities sent out an advisory to the surrounding area to bring in pets, turn off ventilation and close any open windows. Due to the quantity of soot, authorities suggested that no one eat products from vegetable gardens that could be contaminated.
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: at4.nl
Photo: Telegraaf.nl
Photo: Telegraaf.nl
Photo: Brandweer
After 27 hours of fire fighting, the fire on board the Trade was finally was extinguished. A full log of events can be read on the Brandweer website. The extent of damage caused by the fire has not yet been disclosed. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. This is the second scrap metal fire to occur in the port. On April 24, the Federal Tweed also suffered a cargo hold fire containing scrap metal. Fire fighters used the same strategy by unloading the burning scrap to the quay where it would be extinguished. An investigation may provide insight if this strategy can be improved when dealing with scrap metal fires on board bulk carriers.
On the morning of May 12, the 85 meter long self-propelled barge Gulf Stream (MMSI: 205364690) caught fire on Oude Maas River while moored at the Kalkhaven, Dordrecht, Netherlands. The fire started from welding being done on the vessel. The local fire brigade was called out and was able to extinguish the blaze. Reports state there were no injuries, but the Gulf Stream did sustained some damage from the incident.