Less than a week after an onboard fire broke out on a container vessel berthed at the Port of Los Angeles, the United States has recorded another box-ship blaze, this time at the Port of Delaware’s fruit terminal.
The fire broke out in the engine room of the Chiquita Voyager, prompting a large multi-agency emergency response and resulting in injuries to four crew members.
The incident occurred late on the morning of November 26, about 48 hours after the fire on ONE’s vessel Henry Hudson was contained in Los Angeles.
Wednesday’s fire was detected when smoke was seen rising from the ship’s superstructure.
Port workers notified emergency services, and fire crews from Wilmington Fire Department, New Castle County units and mutual-aid departments were dispatched to the scene.
In total, close to seventy responders, including fire, ambulance and emergency-management teams, took part in the operation, Container News reports.
According to officials, the vessel’s onboard suppression systems activated quickly, helping to contain the blaze within the engine room.
Firefighters then entered the compartment in coordinated teams and worked for roughly three hours before bringing the situation under control. Additional crews remained on site throughout the afternoon to monitor hot spots and assist investigators.
Four members of the ship’s crew were taken to Christiana Hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries related to the incident. Their conditions have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Port authorities reported no structural impact to terminal facilities and confirmed that cargo operations in adjacent areas continued under precautionary restrictions. An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the fire, with early indications suggesting a mechanical failure in machinery located within the engine room.
The Chiquita Voyager, a 2 750-TEU vessel, is a regular caller at Wilmington, which serves as a major hub for refrigerated fruit imports into the United States.
