1-800-BOATLAW

Fire Breaks Out On Cargo Ship After Shipping Containers Fall Overboard

The United States Coast Guard responded to a vessel that ignited a fire during heavy weather last Saturday. The ship, Zim Kingston, was at an anchorage at the port of Vancouver when a storm caused a severe list, causing the loss of 40 containers overboard.

Zim has confirmed that most of the crew were evacuated and are all now safe.

“Late at night on Friday around midnight local time, the Zim Kingston was in the Strait of Juan de Fuca awaiting to proceed to the port of Vancouver when extreme weather caused an excessive listing of the vessel resulting in the collapse of containers which were lost overboard,” a Danaos statement read.

“The company immediately notified the local port authorities to put out a warning to vessels in the area. The investigation of the incident was postponed until daylight when the master and the crew will be able to estimate the exact quantity of the lost overboard containers.”

The Canadian Coast Guard is currently working with the United States Coast Guard Pacific Northwest to track the movement of containers from Zim Kingston.

As of Monday afternoon, the containers were currently drifting approximately 12 nm east of Vancouver Island on a northwest trajectory, parallel with the island.

Unfortunately, lost containers present a serious risk to commercial and recreational vessel traffic. The containers tend to float just below the surface where vessels can’t see them. The collision with a submerged container can cause injuries, damage to vessels, even sinkings.

If you survived a vessel sinking, or you have lost a loved one in a vessel sinking in North Pacific, the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea or other waters, it’s important to secure experienced legal counsel. Our maritime lawyers at BoatLaw, LLP have over 40 years of experience in maritime law and can help you fight for the justice you deserve. Call us today at 1 (800) 262-8529 to schedule a free, initial consultation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.