Reports have emerged of a fire on containers on board container ship ZIM Charleston (IMO
9461506), off Colombo Sri Lanka. The fire broke out on August 7th or 8th in cargo hold number 4 when the ship was approaching Colombo or was already anchored, having arrived from Singapore. On August 8th the vessel left Colombo waters and sailed in a western direction, but then quickly turned back and returned on August 8th or 9th. It was berthed on August 11th and, as of August 16th, remained berthed. Reports indicated that some 300 containers were probably damaged. WK Webster said that the vessel was reported to have berthed at East Container Terminal, Colombo, where containers stowed on deck in the affected bays were discharged on August 12th. It added that “we understand
that further investigations are being made at Colombo to ascertain whether it is safe to discharge containers from the affected hold”. As of August 17th the vessel remained moored in Colombo port.
2011-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 91,761 gt ZIM Charleston is owned by Seaspan Holdco LVII Ltd care of Seaspan Ship Management Ltd of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is entered with North of England on behalf of China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association (CPI).
