On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 1020 hours, the container ship Rhine Maersk was forced to make an emergency port call in Tenerife, Canary Islands, due to dangerously high temperatures detected in five cargo containers filled with charcoal. The fire was quickly contained by port emergency responders, averting further damage. The incident has an estimated financial loss of $10 million due to fire damage to the cargo. This fire highlights the ongoing risks in container shipping, with similar incidents occurring every 60 days on average.


Planck Vision Systems : Incendie maîtrisé d'urgence sur le Rhin Maersk : $10 millions de dégâts estimés

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On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Rhine Maersk, a container ship traveling north from Abidjan to Algeciras, was forced to divert to Tenerife, Canary Islands, after dangerously high temperatures were detected in several containers aboard the ship. At 1020 hours, the vessel arrived at the port’s eastern dock, where emergency responders quickly identified five containers filled with charcoal that had begun to self-heat. This is a known risk with materials like charcoal, which can ignite spontaneously when stored or transported improperly. Fortunately, the quick action of port officials, who injected water into the affected containers, helped to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby cargo.

The total estimated loss due to the fire is around $10 million. This includes the fire-damaged cargo and the cost of emergency services. The ship later shifted berths to the container terminal, where damaged cargo was offloaded, and salvage operations began.

Les Rhine Maersk incident serves as a reminder of the persistent safety challenges in container shipping. According to Allianz, while overall vessel losses have declined in recent years, container ship fires continue to pose a major threat, with fires occurring on average once every 60 days. One significant factor contributing to this issue is the improper packaging and misdeclaration of hazardous cargo, which is often not adequately enforced or monitored.

This situation highlights the need for robust safety measures, such as early detection systems for temperature fluctuations in containers. For cargo ships, Planck Vision Systems offers unparalleled protection solutions utilizing the advanced TRX600, TNC20 fixed mount, and the TNC400PT thermal imaging cameras.

Designed for relentless monitoring and meticulous data analysis, our equipment is your sentinel in the demanding conditions of maritime transport. Our systems’ perpetual oversight detects crucial trends and irregularities, providing a fortified layer of defense against threats to cargo safety and integrity.

Whether navigating tranquil or turbulent seas, rely on Planck Vision Systems for steadfast cargo protection, mitigating losses and shielding assets from the unforeseen. Early fire detection is crucial to preventing catastrophic losses like those experienced aboard Rhine Maersk.


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