Fire hits berthed cargo ship in Port Colborne, Canada

Canadian media reports that a cargo vessel suffered an onboard fire while at berth in the city of Port Colborne in Ontario on Monday, February 27.

The locally-registered bulk carrier Algoma Discovery was at berth in the Welland Canal for routine winter maintenance when a blaze ignited in its engine room at around 09:00 local time on Monday.

The crew safely disembarked from the ship as local fire and rescue teams arrived at the canal to render assistance amid the heavy smoke billowing from within the superstructure.

Officials said the blaze was brought under control by 10:30, due in large part to the ship’s onboard fire suppression system.

This is the second fire incident reported on Algoma Discovery. The earlier incident in 2012 occurred while the vessel was in lay-up and undergoing routine winter maintenance in Hamilton, Ontario.