Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is currently investigating the Albert Dock ship fire and treating the cause as accidental.
On Friday (June 27) the fire service was called to Albert Dock to reports of a blaze on a cargo hold containing scrap metal. Throughout the day, large plumes of smoke could be seen throughout the city with residents saying they could smell the smoke as far as Holderness Road.
A number of roads and businesses were closed as a result, including the Ice Arena and Odeon Cinema on Kingston Retail Park. Roads had reopened by 5pm the same day.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service also attended the incident to check people who had been on board the vessel. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
The fire service reported that they had extinguished the fire in the early hours of Saturday morning.
In its latest update, Humberside Fire and Rescue said that they are treating the cause as accidental. A spokesperson said: “The fire investigation is ongoing and we are currently treating the cause as accidental, as the fire started during the loading of the ship. It was a deep-seated fire and a challenging day, but ultimately one with a successful outcome. Thank you to everyone involved.”
The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) has also issued a statement following the incident. Stuart Rivers, CEO of the MNWB which is the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, commented: “While it’s a sobering reminder that seafarers face serious risks, even when moored in port, we commend Humberside Fire and Rescue, the port’s Control Room team and the crew of the Altay.”
“While It’s believed all seafarers on board have been accounted for, we will be in talks with our members, and those on the frontline, to see if any support can be offered in the wake of this fire.”
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