A 700-ton Cargo Ship Suddenly Caught Fire at the Country's Dock

On December 13th, a cargo ship anchored near the royal wharf in Kawthaung Township, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar, caught fire. Due to the difficulty in extinguishing the fire, the only option was to open the ship's water intake valve, allowing the ship to take on water and sink in order to put out the fire.

It is said that there were 22 people on board the cargo ship including the captain. It departed from Yangon on December 11 and arrived in Kawthaung. On December 13, it caught fire in the waters where it was loading cargo.

After receiving the fire alarm, firefighters rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. Despite their swift response, the fire continued to spread, fueled by the highly flammable cargo on board. The fire ultimately engulfed most of the ship, and the authorities were unable to control the blaze. The focus of the efforts was to safely evacuate the crew to a secure area and let the fire burn out while monitoring, with the cause of the fire still under investigation.

Some media reports suggest that the cargo ship was carrying flammable materials such as PVC Resin Powder plastic particles, cosmetics, dried oil palm fruits, iron drums, Sodium Hidronate (a raw material for laundry detergent), milk powder, plastic rolls, tile cleaning fluid, refrigerators, blue plastic barrels, empty bottles, paper rolls, and more, with a total of approximately 700 tons.

Coincidentally, according to Taiwanese media reports, at the end of July this year, when Typhoon Gaemi hit Taiwan, a Mongolian cargo ship ran aground on the beach of Zhenhai Park in Donggang Town, Pingtung County, Taiwan Province. After more than four months, a fire of unknown cause broke out on the cargo ship on the evening of December 17. After relevant personnel arrived at the scene to investigate, they found that debris on the deck of the cargo ship was burning, covering an area of about 10 square meters, and there were no casualties at the scene.

Common Causes of Ship Fires

1.Fuel Oil Leakage. Fuel oil leaks, including high-pressure fuel pipe leaks and low-pressure fuel system leaks, are the most common fire risks on board. Fuel oil in these systems or pipelines may spill into high-temperature areas due to accidents, mechanical failures, or incorrect operations, causing fires.

Safety Tips:

(1)Any hot surface with a temperature above 220 degrees Celsius must be isolated to prevent any oil from coming into contact with the hot surface.

(2) Inferior materials must not be used for fuel oil equipment-related pipelines and fittings.

2.Electrical Failures. Electronic products may overheat or short circuit due to equipment malfunctions, cable damage, or plug overloads, causing fires.

Safety Tips:

(1) Any damaged electrical equipment should be removed or replaced as soon as possible.

(2) The use of multiple extension cords and high-current devices on board is prohibited.

3.Cargo Combustion. Misdeclared or incorrectly declared containers or bulk dangerous goods (such as self-igniting charcoal, chemicals, and batteries) may cause fires during transportation or while loading/unloading, influenced by the nature of the cargo.

Safety Tips:

(1) Conduct cargo declarations strictly in accordance with the law, and prohibit the misdeclaration or underdeclaration of dangerous goods.

(2) Check whether the markings and labels on the cargo packaging are appropriate.

(3) Prohibit placing damaged packages or heavy cargo on top of light cargo.

4.Open Flame Operations. Open flame operations may cause fires if safety precautions are not taken in the work area.

Safety Tips:

(1) Before starting work, carefully prepare and isolate the work area in strict accordance with relevant documents.

(2) Develop a written work plan as required before starting work.

(3) Prohibit placing damaged packages or heavy cargo on top of light cargo.

Responsibility for Cargo Hold Fires During Voyage

In the event of a fire in the cargo hold of a cargo ship, the allocation of responsibility typically depends on the cause of the fire and the obligations and negligence of the relevant personnel or units. Based on existing international and domestic laws and case analysis, the allocation of responsibility can be summarized as follows:

1.Carrier's Responsibility

The carrier must ensure the seaworthiness of the vessel, including proper cargo loading and equipment maintenance. If the fire is due to the carrier's negligence, such as improper equipment maintenance or carelessness, the carrier may be held responsible.

According to international conventions such as the Hague-Visby Rules, if the fire is caused by the actual fault of the carrier, the carrier cannot be exempted from liability. Otherwise, the carrier's responsibility may be based on the principle of presumed fault, meaning that the carrier must prove that the fire was not caused by its fault to be exempted from liability.

2.Shipper's Responsibility

The shipper is responsible for ensuring that the provided goods meet transportation requirements and accurately declare the nature of the goods. If the shipped goods are highly self-igniting or dangerous, and the shipper fails to properly declare or handle them, leading to a fire, the shipper may be held responsible.

In practice, if the fire is caused by the goods provided by the shipper, the shipper usually needs to prove that they have fulfilled reasonable declaration and inspection obligations to mitigate or exempt from responsibility.

3.Force Majeure and Third-Party Fault

If the fire is caused by force majeure (such as natural disasters) or the fault of a third party, the responsibility may not be entirely borne by the carrier or the shipper.

In such cases, it is necessary to analyze the direct cause of the fire and the preventive and responsive measures taken by all parties before the fire to determine the allocation of responsibility.

In summary, the allocation of responsibility for fires in the cargo holds of cargo ships depends on the specific cause of the fire and the specific responsibilities of the carrier and shipper in cargo operations and equipment maintenance. In each case, the allocation of responsibility requires a specific analysis based on the circumstances.

In the future, shipping companies, port management departments, and relevant regulatory agencies need to strengthen cooperation, increase the frequency and quality of vessel safety inspections, and ensure that all vessels meet the latest safety standards. At the same time, safety training for crew members should also be strengthened to enable rapid and effective response in emergencies.

Furthermore, stricter regulation of cargo declaration and handling is needed to ensure that all dangerous goods are properly classified, packaged, and labeled, thereby reducing the risk of fires and other accidents. Technological advancements, such as intelligent monitoring systems and advanced fire suppression technologies, should also be considered to enhance the safety performance of vessels.