A Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying 828 metric tons of lithium batteries caught fire and has been diverted to Dutch Harbor.
According to interagency communications, on Dec. 25, the Panamanian-flagged M/V Genius Star XI experienced a fire in its #1 cargo hold. The cause of the fire is believed to be lithium-ion batteries that ignited during heavy seas.
The vessel crew used its CO2 fire suppression system, and the fire was believed to be extinguished and reported no injuries onboard.
The ship diverted from its original destination of San Diego to Dutch Harbor.
On Dec. 28, the USCG Sector Anchorage Command Center was notified of a second fire, in the #2 cargo hold. The second fire is suspected to have ignited in the same manner as the first reported fire.
The Genius Star is currently cooling the cargo hold boundaries (top hatch and accessible bulkheads (side walls) by using seawater seawater, due to having run out of its CO2 suppression system on the first fire.
Nobody has accessed the cargo hold, and the master does not intend to allow anyone to access that watertight, secure space.
Alaska Chadux Network and has contracted TNT Marine Salvage, which hired Resolve Marine to deploy the vessel “Resolve Pioneer” to aid in firefighting operations on Dec 29.
Alaska Chadux Network is an industry-funded 501(c)(4) nonprofit oil spill response organization headquartered in Anchorage that maintains 17 response ready equipment hubs throughout Southcentral and Western Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard District 17 launched the Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley, to gain greater situational awareness and determine if additional assistance is needed.
The plan for the vessel is to transit to Dutch Harbor, still under its own power without any known propulsion or steering issues at this time, and utilize a mooring buoy located west of Hog Island near, but not in Dutch Harbor.
The vessel is still en route to Dutch Harbor maintaining “standoff from Areas-to-be-Avoided” along the islands, with an estimated arrival of Dec. 29. It has a crew of 19 onboard. The approximate propulsion fuel load (diesel) is 135,000 gallons. The vessel’s cargo is 828 metric tons of lithium-ion batteries.
