Containership catches fire in Panama Canal

A fire has broken out in the engine room of a containership near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal.

The incident took place on 30 January as vessel CAPE KORTIA was navigating towards the PSA Puerto Panama International Terminal en route from South America.

The fire was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported.

The CAPE KORTIA reportedly lost control before tugs from the Panama Canal Authority and fire crews from the National Aeronaval Service of Panama (SENAN) arrived on the scene.

The 11,010 TEU ship was removed from its path by the Panama Canal staff and the incident only briefly impacted traffic in the Pacific Access Channel without any major delay to other vessels.

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A possible minor collision with bulker Ernst Oldensoff was reported by the Authority.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

On 1 July, the CMA CGM ZEPHYR became the largest cargo capacity containership to transit the Panama Canal.

The 16,285 TEU boxship completed a return trip through the Expanded Canal’s Neopanamax Locks after calling at the Ports of New York and Savannah.