Car Carrier Catches Fire at Port of Incheon, South Korea -Incident Video

A screengrab from Yonhap News video (below) showing the fire on board the Panama-registered Auto Banner at the Port of Incheon, May 21, 2018. Credit: Yonhap News

A Panama-flagged car carrier caught fire Monday while docked at the Port of Incheon in South Korea.

Officials said the fire broke out at about 9:40 a.m. local time in the cargo area of the vehicle carrier, which was loaded with about 2,000 vehicles bound for Libya at the time.

The ship has been confirmed as the 52,000-ton, 200-meter-long Auto Banner.

The fire is believed to have started when an engine in one of the vehicles being transported overheated, sparking a fire which spread to other vehicles.

All 28 crew members evacuated the ship without injury.

Officials said the ship arrived in Incheon from the United States on Saturday and was scheduled to depart for Libya on Tuesday.

Video from Yonhap News shows firefighters attempting to the cool the hull of the vessel as smoke pours out the top. Visible damage can be seen on the side of the ship.

The Port of Incheon is South Korea’s second busiest port and in 2016 it handled more than 20% of the countries used-vehicle exports. 

The Hyundai Glovis-operated Auto Banner was built in 1988 and has capacity for about 6,022 AEU (Automobile Equivalent Units). 

Here is the video below:

Updated: April 18, 2023 (Originally published May 21, 2018)

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