If you have insured cargo on board the following vessels and would like us to assist you in pursuing any claims arising from these incidents (or any similar cases), or if you require assistance in providing GA or salvage guarantees, please contact us as soon as possible.
Date: 28 January 2019 Type: Fire Voyage: Far Eastern Ports to North America via Suez
Update 28 January 2019
YANTIAN EXPRESS is now being towed to Freeport, Bahamas, as a port of refuge. This has been changed from the original port of refuge which was to be Halifax, Canada.
Although the fire on board has now been brought under control, salvage services under the LOF contract are still be performed. The vessel is expected to arrive off Freeport later this week and we would expect the salvage services to be terminated shortly afterwards.
The cargo in the forward two holds has been damaged. We understand that some reefer cargo on hold number 3 may also have been damaged.
The vessel owners have declared General Average. The Average Adjusters are Richards Hogg Lindley. We expect that requests for General Average security will be circulated to cargo owners in the next few days.
Update 14 January 2019
YANTIAN EXPRESS, which caught fire on 3rd January 2019, is now under tow towards Halifax. She is expected to arrive in port in around two weeks.
Salvage services are being provided on an LOF salvage contract by Smit. Two tugs, MAERSK MOBILSER and SMIT NICOBAR, are in attendance, with other craft on the way.
It is reported that the fire has now largely been brought under control by the fire-fighting efforts. But all cargo in hold no 1 and bay 12 has been directly effected by the fire.
The cargo in hold no 2 has also been effected by the fire, smoke or wetted by water used to try to extinguish the fire.
Initial Casualty Report
Reports have been received that German flag vessel YANTIAN EXPRESS (88,493gt, built 2002) is on fire in the North Atlantic approximately 650 miles off the coast of Canada. No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.
It is understood that the fire started in one of the containers on deck, spreading to other containers in the vicinity. Fire firefighting operations by the crew were hampered because of poor weather and heavy seas.
A tug is on its way to the casualty and the situation is being monitored by the US Coast Guard. We understand that a cargo vessel HAPPY RANGER is also nearby to provide further assistance as might be required.
The vessel’s last port of call before the accident was Colombo from where she sailed on 17th December 2018. Prior to this she called at Singapore, Cai Mep, Busan, Qianwan, Yangshan and Hong Kong. She is destined for New York, Savannah, Jacksonville, Norfolk and Halifax.
As well as cargo damage, it is possible the claims for salvage and general average will arise as a result of this incident.
