Flaminia fire extinguished

   Inspectors finally got a look at the stricken containership MSC Flaminia Tuesday after adverse weather Monday pushed back a scheduled inspection off the coast of England.
   A team of international inspectors was joined by one from the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, with results of the inspection due in the coming days, the ship’s German owner Reederei NSB said in an update Tuesday.
   “After a positive result it is still planned to tow MSC Flaminia through the English Channel towards German waters,” Reederei said. “There, the ship will be anchoring before it is transferred to Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven.”
   The owner said the fire in cargo hold 3, site of an explosion in mid-July while the vessel was on course from Charleston to Bremerhaven, has been extinguished.
   “The temperature within the cargo hold matches the ambient temperature. In cargo hold 7, 10 containers were declared to be extinguished. Currently, higher temperatures are measured only in four more containers. Overall, significant progress has been made in the containment of the fire,” the ship owner said.
   The 6,732-TEU ship was operated by Mediterranean Shipping Co. on a transatlantic service. General average for all cargo on board was declared Aug. 8. The cause of the fire is still yet to be determined. – Eric Johnson