Nearly a week after a fire in its cargo hold, a general cargo ship owned by Taiwan’s Wisdom
Marine remains anchored in Broad Bay, near Alaska’s Dutch Harbor, said the US Coast
Guard on 2 January.
Around 4.40 am (local time) on 28 December 2023, the crew on the 2012-built 13,663 dwt
Genius Star XI alerted the US Coast Guard to fire in the cargo hold. At the time, Genius Star XI was 225 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor.
The Coast Guard directed Genius Star XI to continue toward Dutch Harbor while an HC-130
airplane from Air Station Kodiak and Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC-39) were
dispatched to assist. The fire was mostly brought under control by the crew on Genius Star
XI.
Vessel-tracking data shows that Genius Star XI departed Hai Phong, Vietnam, on 10
December 2023, carrying lithium-ion batteries bound for San Diego in the US.
None of Genius Star XI’s 19 crew members were hurt and technicians from the Salvage and
The Marine Firefighting team remains onboard to ensure the fire does not recur.
The vessel remains on a prepositioned mooring buoy in Broad Bay for weather avoidance
based on a recommendation from an Alaska Marine Pilot and the Salvage Master aboard
the vessel. Genius Star XI will keep its pilothouse manned, engines warm, and have a tug
standing by to respond if the situation changes.
“This protected anchorage … will allow the vessel to remain stable, minimizing the risk of any re-flash of the fire as we continue our response,” stated Captain Chris Culpepper. A one-mile safety zone around the vessel remains in place. Mariners who wish to enter that
zone shall request permission.
The Unified Command, consisting of the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Gallagher Marine
Systems, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, continues to work
closely to coordinate response efforts on this incident.
An investigation into the cause of the fire will start once response efforts are complete.
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the leading causes of ship fires and in July 2023, the K Line-operated car carrier Fremantle Highway, carrying several electric vehicles from
Germany to Egypt burst into flames. The ship burnt for several days and one crewman lost
his life.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
