Cargo Ship Genius Star XI Docks At Dutch Harbor, Alaska After Fire Incident

The M/V Genius Star XI, a Panama-flagged vessel, has successfully docked at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, following a cargo fire incident reported on December 28, 2023. The ship travelled from Vietnam to California when the fire broke out 225 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor. The fire was eventually found in hold number two after the vessel used up its CO2 supply. Initially, the fire was contained in hold number one, which housed the CO2 system.

When the ship arrived at Dutch Harbor on December 30, it reported standard heat signatures from the holds. It then stayed at anchor in Broad Bay. To improve safety and simplify logistics for the salvage effort, salvage teams—including the Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team—recommended moving the ship to Unalaska Marine Center Docks 1 and 2.

The Salvage Master and the Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, among other technical specialists, provided input that went into the decision to relocate the vessel. Resecuring the damaged cargo of lithium-ion industrial battery units is the main goal; it is assumed that cargo shifting during the Pacific trip caused harm to the cargo.

The relocation makes loading supplies required for the salvage operation easier using the ship’s crane. There are no intentions to unload cargo in Dutch Harbor shoreside. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Gallagher Marine Systems, the Coast Guard, and the vessel’s owner work together under the Unified Command to resolve the situation.

As directed by the Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team and local public safety officials, the community air monitoring system was moved before docking. Since the incident began, there have been no reports of abnormal air quality onboard or in the neighbourhood.

The Port’s Captain, Chris Culpepper, highlighted that bringing the ship to a pier creates a safer and more productive working environment while reducing delays brought on by adverse weather conditions. The vessel is restocking its 152 CO2 bottle firefighting system in preparation for its eventual departure from Dutch Harbor.

The purpose of an ongoing investigation is to identify the fire’s cause. The Coast Guard indicated confidence in carrying out operations properly and without posing additional risk to the people despite the lack of a defined schedule for the salvage operation and the vessel’s departure.

Reference: USCG

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