Containership Suffers Engine Room Fire at the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal Authority is reporting that a fire broke out in the engine room of a containership near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal on Monday.

The fire was reported on the Maltese-flagged Cape Kortia as it navigated towards the PSA Panama International Terminal.

Photos posted online show smoke billowing from the ship’s funnel near the Bridge of the Americas.

Panama’s National Aeronaval Service responded to the incident with two vessels.

The fire has since been brought under control and no injuries are reported.

“The CAPE KORTIA remained briefly on its way to the Pacific Access Channel until it got removed by the Panama Canal staff,” the Panama Canal Authority said in a statement. “These maneuvers occurred during its regular transit window and did not cause delays to vessels transiting the Panama Canal.”

The 2017-built M/V Cape Kortia is owned by Costamare (NYSE: CMRE) and chartered to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. Its capacity is 11,010 TEUs.

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