THE Maltese flagged 4,253-TEU Zim Kingston, en route from Busan to Vancouver, was reportedly on fire, having spilled 40 containers from the weather deck in stormy weather as it neared its destination, reported America's National Public Radio.
The Zim Kingston lost part of its payload just after midnight about 40 miles west of Cape Flattery on the US-Canadian border.
Then a cargo fire broke out while at anchor in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The US Coast Guard update said as many as 35 containers had been observed floating and are being monitored as they drifted to the north.
'The weather conditions at the time were 16-to-20-foot waves. That's enough to impact a boat pretty badly,' said US Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero.
A helicopter from the US Coast Guard station in Port Angeles was able to locate eight of the stackable metal boxes afloat in the Pacific. Before sunset, 35 containers had been spotted, many drifting north toward Vancouver Island.
Environment Canada issued a gale warning for the west coast of Vancouver Island, with winds up to 40 miles per hour out of the southeast.
Two of the containers are believed to contain hazardous materials, according to PO Caballero, who said the hazardous materials were combustible.
'These containers may be partially submerged and not visible,' said the US Coast Guard, urging extreme caution on any ships in the area.
The ship was then anchored off Victoria, British Columbia. The Zim Kingston is operated by Zim of Israel.
SeaNews Turkey
The Zim Kingston lost part of its payload just after midnight about 40 miles west of Cape Flattery on the US-Canadian border.
Then a cargo fire broke out while at anchor in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The US Coast Guard update said as many as 35 containers had been observed floating and are being monitored as they drifted to the north.
'The weather conditions at the time were 16-to-20-foot waves. That's enough to impact a boat pretty badly,' said US Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero.
A helicopter from the US Coast Guard station in Port Angeles was able to locate eight of the stackable metal boxes afloat in the Pacific. Before sunset, 35 containers had been spotted, many drifting north toward Vancouver Island.
Environment Canada issued a gale warning for the west coast of Vancouver Island, with winds up to 40 miles per hour out of the southeast.
Two of the containers are believed to contain hazardous materials, according to PO Caballero, who said the hazardous materials were combustible.
'These containers may be partially submerged and not visible,' said the US Coast Guard, urging extreme caution on any ships in the area.
The ship was then anchored off Victoria, British Columbia. The Zim Kingston is operated by Zim of Israel.
SeaNews Turkey
