Casualty News

MV ONE HENRY HUDSON

Date
November 21, 2025

Type
Fire and Explosion while berthed

Voyage
Tokyo, Japan / Los Angeles, USA

Reports have been received that the MV ONE HENRY HUDSON experienced an electrical fire below deck while moored at the Port of Los Angeles, United States, at approximately 1838 hours local time on 21 November 2025.

It is understood that the incident quickly escalated, resulting in visible flames on several levels and prompting a large-scale emergency response. Shortly before 2000 hours, an explosion occurred near the mid-deck, leading to a complete loss of power, including lighting and crane operations. Hazardous materials were identified in several bays, leading to activation of air-quality monitoring by HazMat teams.

The Los Angeles Fire Department, Long Beach Fire Department, Port Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed, with more than 120 firefighters involved. A shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby communities, and the Vincent Thomas Bridge was temporarily closed. The U.S. Coast Guard also established a one-nautical-mile safety zone around the vessel.

All 23 crew members were safely accounted for, and no injuries were reported. The vessel, which had arrived from Shinagawa Port, Tokyo, on 19 November 2025, was berthed at the Yusen Container Terminal. Port officials confirmed that four container terminals temporarily suspended operations during the emergency response.

The vessel reportedly sustained damage to several container bays, and early estimates suggest that up to 100 containers may have been affected.

By 22 November 2025, authorities reported that the fire was nearly contained, shelter-in-place orders were lifted, and terminal operations within the port gradually resumed.

The vessel’s last port of call before the incident was Tokyo (Shinagawa), and it was berthed in Los Angeles at the time of the fire.

As well as cargo damage, it is possible the claims for general average will arise as a result of this incident.

If you are the cargo insurers for goods on board this vessel and require assistance the any claims arising, then please do not hesitate to contact us. We can assist with:

Arranging cargo damage surveys

Investigating the cause of the incident

Recovery of losses on NO CURE NO PAY terms

Provision of Salvage Guarantees (for a premium starting from 0.4% of guarantee amount)

Handling of Salvage claims (without the need for lawyers)

Providing Average Guarantees

Handling of GA claims

Defence of GA claims in NO CURE NO PAY terms