Two seafarers died and another crewman was hurt after a fire broke out in the engine room of the 2,174 TEU container ship Stride.
COSCO Shipping Lines had chartered Stride from Danaos Corporation to operate a service connecting the US port Houston with Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia. The service, launched in June 2021 to target reefer cargoes, is jointly operated with CMA CGM, which contributes two chartered vessels.
The fire is said to have occurred while containers were being loaded at Barbours Cut Container Terminal, and Port Houston Fire Department was alerted to the incident around 3.30 am local time on 8 January. The fire departments of Baytown and LaPorte also responded to the incident.
The three seafarers were hurt while trying to put out the fire, which reportedly started while the 1997-built Stride was being bunkered. By 7.32 am the same day, the flames were put out.
Two of the crewmen were pronounced dead at the scene, while the third seafarer was airlifted to a Houston hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Port Houston said the flames have since been contained, but the area will be monitored for 24 hours per protocol.
The cause of the fire will be investigated.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo shared a statement following the incident, saying, in part: “At this time, Harris County Pollution Control Services has confirmed that there is no threat to the surrounding community. Harris County extends our deepest to the deceased, the injured, and their families.”
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
