Fire razes vessel at Lagos Port

But for the intervention of rescuers, a fire outbreak in a cargo ship, CHANG Min, at Apapa Port, Lagos, would have left more devastating effect.

The vessel was said to have arrived the Lagos Port on Saturday morning with consignments which include construction equipment, Iron rods, CNG trucks, wooden products and tyres, before it went up in flames.

The captain of the ship successfully steered the ship into the Lagos Port where rescue operations commenced immediately.

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It was learnt that the ill-fated vessel was helped to berth at shed 8, ENL Consortium Terminal in Apapa.

It was learnt that the rescuers who were on ground waiting for the arrival of the ship, sprang into action immediately.

A statement released on Saturday by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said the fire was put out through a combined effort from fire officials from the LASEMA Response Team-Onipanu, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Fire Unit.

According to the LASEMA statement which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Authority, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the fire was observed at the point of unloading.

The LASEMA statement reads: “Following distress alerts at 1755hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from the Cobra Base in Onipanu.

“Upon arrival at the scene, a cargo ship CHANG MIN laden with cargo which included CNG trucks, wooden products, tyres and other highly combustible products was observed to have caught fire within section two of the cargo hold.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by Emergency responders at the scene revealed that the fire was observed at the point of unloading and the cause is yet to be ascertained at time of report.

“No life was lost and no injuries were sustained to anyone as all seafarers on board have been accounted for.

“The Cobra response team alongside all other responders at the scene undertook the following actions: Debrief from the Crew on board to give more information to Emergency Response Teams as to the instruction that the compartment be totally shut to eliminate oxygen supply, while initial dampening down was being conducted;

“A fire response plan was agreed upon by Emergency Responders on a method to combat the inferno in the safest possible way to eliminate secondary incidents and also ensure the safety of all fire fighters; ⁠Reopening of the cargo hold to enable fire teams engage the inferno; Location of fire and the ship floor plan..”

The LASEMA statement also added that the fire had been totally extinguished and recovery operation concluded.

The cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained as at the time this report was filed.