The V-Ships owned 8,814TEU vessel Northern Jubilee, which was operated by MSC, suffered an engine room fire on 18 December delaying the vessel in the Red Sea region, off King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia.
According to the latest reports the vessels carbon dioxide firefighting system extinguished the blaze, but the vessel was disabled and was towed by tug to the Saudi port.
All the cargo on board the vessel has been discharged according to Container News sources and is in the process of being delivered to consignees, while the vessel is no longer operated by MSC.
It remains unclear whether general average has been declared, but insurers have reported that if GA is declared, security may be required from cargo owners.
Furthermore, sources have said that power to the vessel is currently provided via the emergency generator and the auxiliary engines. However, “It is likely that power to temperature-controlled containers will have been interrupted for a period of time as a result of the fire which may also give rise to claims for deterioration of cargo stowed thereto and associated recovery issues.”
Nick Savvides
Managing Editor