A new photo released by Spanish Maritime Search and Rescue Society shows just what can happen when 50,000 tons of fertilizer overheats during transit.
The photo shows the 56,000 dwt British bulk carrier MV Cheshire, which suffered a cargo fire in August off the coast of the Canary Islands during a passage from Norway to Thailand with a cargo of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
The cargo in all five of the ship’s cargo holds burned for two straight weeks until there was no more fertilizer to burn.
Cheshire’s crew abandoned the ship a few days into the slow-burning fire. Salvors were able to keep the vessel away from shore but couldn’t board the ship due to the toxic smoke.
The MV Cheshire is owned by Bibby Line and was delivered in 2012.
Here’s what the vessel looked like after the fire was out:
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