(THIS IS AN ARCHIVE PHOTO, NOT THE PHOTO OF ACTUAL FIRE ON MSC FLAMINIA)
As of morning July 16 MSC Flaminia is drifting in mid-Atlantic in 47 52N 30 44W area with a large plume of smoke seen from passing vessels. One of the four injured crew died from heavy burns on board of MSC Stella, the remaining three were taken to Azores by helicopter, one of them being treated in intensive care. There were 25 people on board, 23 crew (5 German, 3 Polish and 15 Filipino) and 2 passengers. Reportedly, two tugs with firefighting equipment are on the way to a burning vessel, ETA July 17 afternoon. Manager of the vessel, German company NSB Niederelbe just can’t explain what happened and will stay in dark until specialists will reach MSC Flaminia. Crew said fire started in hold number four, reportedly some containers were loaded with combustible bleaching agent calcium hypochlorite. The hull and P and I insurer for the vessel is Swedish Club, which already suffered a major loss from boxship Rena disaster in New Zealand.