Four crew members were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out in the engine room of the container ship Chiquita Voyager at the Port of Wilmington on 26 November, with one of the men reported to be in serious condition.

Emergency services were alerted at 9:28 a.m. following reports of a fire on the Liberia-flagged vessel. On arrival, Wilmington firefighters said they saw smoke rising from the ship’s superstructure.

New Castle County Paramedics said a 23-year-old man was treated for possible airway burns before being transported to Christiana Hospital in serious condition.

Three other crew members, aged 27, 29, and 38, were also taken to the same hospital with burns to their hands. Their medical conditions were not immediately disclosed.

The Wilmington Fire Department confirmed all four injured individuals were members of the ship’s crew.

Fire crews entered the vessel to tackle the fire and assist with the evacuation of those on board. According to Wilmington Fire Battalion officials, the fire was found in the engine room, and they stated that the ship’s onboard fire-suppression system had activated, helping to contain the flames to the area of origin.

Crews worked for roughly three hours before the fire was brought under control. Fire units continued to remain on scene throughout the day to monitor for any potential flare-ups and to assist with the investigation. The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is now leading the inquiry into the cause of the incident.

Approximately 70 fire and ambulance personnel responded, including multiple Wilmington Fire Department engines, ladders, ambulances, battalion chiefs, and specialist units.

New Castle County EMS, New Castle County Emergency Management, and several county fire departments also provided mutual aid.

The Chiquita Voyager is part of Chiquita’s long-established container service linking Central America with Wilmington. The Port of Wilmington has served as the company’s primary North American hub since 1988.

Earlier this year, terminal operator Enstructure announced a new long-term agreement with Chiquita Brands to continue and expand this partnership.

The port receives weekly vessel calls from Chiquita, with shipments of bananas, pineapples and other produce destined for more than 200 million consumers across the United States and Canada.

Fire and emergency personnel are expected to continue monitoring conditions aboard the vessel as the investigation progresses.

References: fox29, delawareonline