Thread by @IntelWalrus

Hearing rumors that the ZIM KINGSTON, the container ship that lost ~40 containers off the coast of Vancouver is currently fighting a fire that was caused by 2 hazmat containers that were hanging on the side of the ship. Its currently anchored by Victoria. A🇨🇦 CG vessel is nearby.

According to radio traffic, 2 tug boats with fire fighting capability and fire fighting equipment on board have been tasked with helping put out the fire.

#Breaking Radio call from ZIM KINGSTON (container ship which lost ~40 containers off the coast of Vancouver yesterday) requesting assistance from the Victoria Coast Guard due to a container fire on board. ZIM KINGSTON is currently anchored ~5 miles from Victoria.

The ongoing fire on the ZIM KINGSTON has caused several containers on the ship to collapse.

A Canadian Department of Transpor Dash-8 surveillance plane is circling the site of the fire on the ZIM KINGSTON. The same plane was earlier conducting surveillance of the containers that fell off the ship and are not floating off the coast of Vancouver Island. #C0764A

Radio communications between the ZIM KINGSTON and the Canadian Coast Guard indicate that their plane (Transport 951) has noticed the fire has spread to the inside rows of the container ship. The crew reported that maximum water is being applied but 6 containers are now on fire.

This live webcam from Harling Point in southern Victoria shows the ship is almost entirely obscured in white smoke now. There is an 800 meter exclusion zone around the ship set by the Canadian Coast Guard due to the toxic smoke. namroc.com/live/

UPDATE: Radio communications between the crew of the ZIM KINGSTON and the Canadian Coast Guard indicate that the Coast Guard tugs sent to help the smoking ship are being advised not to deploy water to fight the fire onboard due to the nature of the hazardous materials on the ship

#BREAKING UPDATE: Due to the fire onboard, the entire crew of the ZIM KINGSTON including the captain has been advised to Abandon Ship by Canadian Authorities. Recording attached of radio communications between the crew and Canadian Coast Guard discussing the situation. @vcdgf555

UPDATE: The Canadian Coast Guard is beginning evacuations of the ZIM KINGSTON, 10 crewmembers were reported as on board a CCG vessel with others still waiting on the burning ship. Additionally, a 1 mile exclusion zone NAVWARN has been established around the ship due to toxic gas.

UPDATE: After what was described to me as a small explosion on board the burning #ZimKingston which shifted some of the containers on the deck, the crew is now requesting 4-5 more crewmembers be evacuated by the Canadian Coast Guard. 10/21 members of the crew were removed earlier

UPDATE: The Coast Guard has successfully evacuated another 6 crew members (of the initial 21) from the stricken #ZimKingston. Only the captain and 4 others remain on board. The evacuated crew is being transported to Pier B in Ogden Point where ambulances and police are waiting.

According to radio communications heard by @vcdgf555 other ships in the vicinity of the #ZimKingston seem hesitant to evacuate the bay due to the oncoming adverse weather despite calls from the Victoria Coast Guard to relocate.

UPDATE: Some details about the firefighting efforts communicated by the #ZimKingston. Tugboat Seaspan Raven has approached the ship & is being directed to try to cool the hull with water, but not to spray the deck to prevent water from entering the hull.

UPDATE: #ZimKingston advised by the Coast Guard that the ship will soon swing West with the tide sending smoke from the fire into the ship's wheelhouse where the remaining crew is. Also, the burning material is Cargo class 4.2 'flammable goods liable to spontaneous combustion

New images from this morning of the damage on the deck of the #ZimKingston

Update from the Canadian Coast Guard on the overnight firefighting efforts with regards to the #ZimKingston.

UPDATE: Radio traffic from the #ZimKingston reported no more visible fires on board, but there is still black smoke and intense heat coming from containers on the deck. Assisting tugs are reporting difficulty maintaining position or focusing water on the hot spots due to winds.

There will be a media briefing from the Canadian Coast Guard on the situation with the ZIM KINGSTON starting at 1:30 PST (45 mins from now).

Canadian Coast Guard hosted a Press update & Q&A session on the status of the #ZimKingston fire. You can listen to the 30-minute unedited audio below. Firefighting efforts should be winding down & salvage and investigation teams will arrive later this week soundcloud.com/user-616106246…