A fire onboard the containership ‘MSC Rita’ in the Persian Gulf last week, is reported to have resulted in the death of one crew member.

The 8,034-teu ship is understood to have been at anchor outside the port of Khalifa, Abu Dhabi, when a fire broke out after an explosion on board. A mayday call for help was issued before a UAE Search and Rescue helicopter lifted one crew member to attempted safety.

However, subsequent reports, albeit not confirmed by the carrier, have suggested that the 48 year old man from Montenegro died in the accident.

Ship data confirmed that the ship anchored in Khalifa on 6th June, after calling Jebel Ali the day before. No data was transmitted after its arrival as UAE state services, provided assistance to the crew in extinguishing the fire.

Fires on containerships have become commonplace during the past few years, with many being attributed to dangerous goods cargo, and many resulting in the total loss of the vessel and its cargo.

The above serves as a reminder of the importance for exporters and importers to ensure they have the correct cargo insurance in place. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact a member of your Westbound team.

Video courtesy of @NSRCUAE on twitter:

If you have any questions regarding the above, then Westbound are here to help. So, please do not hesitate to contact us.