Classification
- Incident Type: Fire
- Severity: Medium
- Casualty classification: Serious Marine Casualty
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MSC Katrina |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Panama [PA] |
| IMO Number | 9467445 |
| Gross Tonnage | 140096 |
| LOA (m) | 365.74 |
| Breadth (m) | 48.40 |
| Year Built | 2012 |
| Owner/Operator | MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co, Switzerland |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2015-11-20 |
| Location | River Elbe, kilometre mark 763, Germany |
| Region | North Sea |
| Coordinates | 53.991667, 8.250000 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | Cargo in one charcoal container was destroyed and several other containers were damaged by extinguishing water. No ship damage was reported. |
| Economic Damage |
The report records no injuries or environmental damage. It does not provide a monetary damage estimate or a separate missing-person count.
Key facts
- Smoke detection reported smoke in cargo hold 2 at 03:43 on 20 November 2015 while MSC Katrina was proceeding toward Hamburg.
- The vessel anchored in the Outer Elbe roadstead while the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies arranged specialist firefighting assistance.
- Firefighters identified the affected container in a free-standing stack and used fognails and hoses to extinguish the charcoal fire.
- The BSU attributed the fire to self-heating of industrial lump charcoal. The cargo had passed the small-sample UN N.4 test, but the investigation found that this method did not fully account for the behavior of large charcoal volumes in sea containers.
Narrative
MSC Katrina, a Panamanian-flagged container vessel, was carrying industrial lump charcoal that had originated in Borneo, Indonesia, and was destined for France. During the approach to Hamburg on 20 November 2015, the smoke detection system reported smoke in cargo hold 2 at 03:43. The crew investigated, raised the general alarm, and prepared the fixed carbon-dioxide system. VTS Cuxhaven was notified, and the vessel anchored in the Outer Elbe roadstead.
The second officer found smoke extending up to the seventh container tier but no open flame. A fire cruiser and the specialist firefighting unit from Cuxhaven proceeded to the vessel. Firefighters determined that the affected container carried about 9,000 kg of charcoal and was located in a free-standing stack with other 40-foot containers. The response team used fognails and hoses to cool and extinguish the cargo. The vessel later proceeded slowly toward the Elbe berth, where the affected container and other containers from the stack were taken ashore for controlled discharge. The affected container was placed in a tank during the subsequent handling.
The BSU investigation attributed the fire to self-heating of the charcoal. The cargo had passed the UN N.4 preliminary test and was therefore not classified as class 4.2 dangerous goods under the test result available before shipment. Expert analysis for the investigation found an auto-ignition temperature of 41 degrees Celsius for a 27 cubic metre quantity, and concluded that the small-sample test did not fully address the effect of volume on self-heating. The report also identified deficiencies in the cargo documentation and recommended improved testing, declaration, and accessible on-deck stowage for charcoal and other self-heating substances.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015-11-20 03:43 | The smoke detection system reported smoke in cargo hold 2. |
| 2015-11-20 03:49 | VTS Cuxhaven was notified and MSC Katrina anchored in the Outer Elbe roadstead. |
| 2015-11-20 05:13 | The specialist firefighting vessel Neuwerk reached the area. |
| 2015-11-20 07:55 | A survey identified the affected charcoal container in a free-standing stack. |
| 2015-11-20 08:24 | A second firefighting unit was transferred to the vessel by helicopter. |
| 2015-11-20 13:00 | MSC Katrina began a slow turn toward the Elbe berth while the fire remained under control. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-heating charcoal | Confirmed finding | The BSU attributed the outbreak of fire to self-heating of the industrial lump charcoal. |
| Test method limitations | Confirmed finding | The investigation concluded that the UN N.4 test did not fully account for the effect of large cargo volume on self-heating. |
| Cargo information and documentation | Confirmed finding | The report identified gaps in the relationship between the cargo documents, the shipment, and the required self-heating information. |
Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation investigated the fire in reports 455/15 and 58/16. The investigation examined the cargo, its documentation, the self-heating test method, the response, and the stowage implications for charcoal. It concluded that the existing test procedure required revision for self-heating substances transported in large packages or in bulk in sea containers.