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Destroyed containers to be unloaded

The 250 containers destroyed by fire aboard the "Hanjin Athens" will be unloaded in Limassol after port workers were given satisfactory explanations and assurances about the cargo. There had been concern that the containers were dangerous, with organisations and citizens asking that the ship take the containers elsewhere. The vessel entered the port in the evening of June 28 so that all necessary procedures could be taken to unload the containers as well as all the effluent that resulted from the fire which was extinguished using sea water. Cypriot and foreign experts had assured that the containers could be unloaded and handled in line with international safety protocols. The same procedures will apply for some 1,700 tons of water in the ship’s hold that will be handled by a licensed company. The shipping company has undertaken to cover the cost and to transfer any dangerous material abroad. After the fire was contained to one of the holds, the ship came to Cyprus on May 30 with the ship owners asking to unload the 250 containers destroyed by fire. It remained off Limassol for two weeks, with port workers refusing to unload it fearing the containers contained chemicals or other dangerous materials.

At least 200 containers damaged in fire

The "Hanjin Athens" suffered a fire in her No. 2 hold on May 6, 2014, south of the Suez Canal. The casualty was on a laden voyage with containerised cargo loaded in Pusan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Yantian and Singapore bound for Port Said, Naples, Livorno and La Spezia. Hull interests engaged the services of professional salvors, Svitzer. The fire-fighting services were rendered under a fixed form contract. A significant number of containers in No. 2 hold were flooded with extinguishing water. The fire was put out, but at least 200 boxes were damaged. On June 6 the "Hanjin Athens" arrived on Limassol Anchorage with the task of offloading damaged containers. A team of experts surveyed containers and didn’t find dangerous items in cargo manifest, i.e. materials of class 1 (explosives) and class 7 (radioactive). On June 13 vessel was still on Limassol Anchorage awaiting permission to unload, otherwise it would be dangerous to stay on course to the original destination. Albatross Adjusters Ltd. were seeking General Average security from all cargo and container shell interests. A task team was formed to assess the dangers of allowing the ship to enter Limassol port and unload its cargo on Cyprus soil. Limassol Port sent experts onboard, verified the ship’s manifest, inspected the cargo and ordered all the tests required, as per standard procedure. They were expecting the final results within the next days and if everything checks out OK the cargo will be unloaded on June 17 or 18.