A major fire broke out on 26 November aboard the Liberia-flagged container ship Chiquita Voyager while the vessel was alongside in the Port of Wilmington, USA. The blaze was successfully contained, but four crew members were injured and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The incident began at approximately 09:28 local time in the ship’s engine room, prompting an immediate emergency response. Around 70 personnel from multiple agencies took part, including the Wilmington Fire Department, the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, and mutual-aid units from several local fire companies.
Smoke was seen coming from the ship’s accommodation/superstructure area, leading firefighters to board the vessel and commence firefighting operations using water supplied from the pier. The US Coast Guard later provided shoreside support, and the ship’s onboard fire suppression systems also helped to limit the spread of the fire.
Responders worked for roughly three hours to bring the situation under control. Fire crews remained on scene through the end of the day to monitor for hotspots and prevent re-ignition.
The severity of the crew members’ injuries has not been confirmed. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Chiquita Voyager was built in 2005 and measures 221.7 metres in length with a beam of 29.86 metres.
