The container ship ONE Henry Hudson, with a capacity of 8,212 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), has recently set sail from the US West Coast to Asia for repairs, nearly two months after a devastating onboard fire in Los Angeles. Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced that all cargo discharge operations at the Yusen Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles have been completed, and the ship’s containers have been relocated to designated storage areas within the terminal. The release of these containers is contingent upon general average contributions from shippers, indicating that the costs of the incident may be shared among those with a stake in the cargo.
The fire aboard the ONE Henry Hudson erupted while the vessel was docked at Yusen Terminal, with the Los Angeles Fire Department speculating that the blaze originated below deck, potentially due to an electrical fault. The fire quickly escalated, damaging various internal spaces of the ship and causing a mid-deck explosion that resulted in a total loss of onboard power, thereby disabling essential services such as lighting and crane operations. In light of the fire’s intensity and the subsequent safety concerns for the port, authorities mandated that the vessel be towed away from the berth to an offshore anchorage near Angel’s Gate Lighthouse. Firefighting teams continued their efforts to suppress and cool the vessel at sea to mitigate further damage and ensure the safety of port infrastructure.
With all cargo successfully discharged, the ONE Henry Hudson is now en route to an unspecified shipyard in Asia, traveling at reduced speed. The ship is scheduled for a comprehensive assessment and extensive repairs, required to restore its operational capabilities before it can re-enter service. This incident highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by container vessels and underscores the critical nature of safety protocols and emergency responses within maritime operations.
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