Thermal imaging reveals the extent of burning below deck during a cargo ship fire in Florida. - Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

Thermal imaging reveals the extent of burning below deck during a cargo ship fire in Florida.

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

A fire aboard a cargo vessel docked at Blount Island, Florida, was declared under control Sunday morning, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department states.

The company confirms that at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday a fire broke out aboard the vessel Höegh Xiamen on her seventh deck shortly after it completed loading operations at Blount Island in Jacksonville.

Of nearly 150 firefighters on the scene, eight were injured following an explosion before 7 p.m., First Coast News reports. Another firefighter suffered heat exhaustion.

All but three of the injured were released from the hospital Friday.  

Firefighters with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and specialist marine firefighters with Resolve Marine Group continue to work to extinguish the blaze on several decks, with an ongoing focus on cooling the vessel’s exterior. This is being carried out by fire tugs alongside which are spraying water on the vessel to keep it cool. An additional high capacity pump has also been deployed to significantly increase the amount of water on the hull.

Höegh Autoliners CEO, Thor Jørgen Guttormsen said the company is continually grateful for the assistance of the State of Florida, the US Coast Guard, the Port of Jacksonville and especially the firefighters whose ongoing hard work and expertise have brought the fire under control.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the firefighters who sustained injuries during the initial response to the fire and we wish them a speedy recovery,” Guttormsen said.

There has been no report of any pollution, and this is being continually monitored. Containment booms have been placed around the vessel as a precautionary measure.

 

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