NYK Delphinus Cargo Operations Kick Off 3 Months Post-Engine Room Fire

Three months after an engine room fire on the NYK Delphinus, cargo owners are still waiting to retrieve their boxes on board. Not for long, however.

An update from ship operator Ocean Network Express (ONE) said cargo discharge operations kicked off this week in Oakland, California, where the vessel has been located since the incident.

The NYK Delphinus contacted the U.S. Coast Guard back on May 14 reporting an engine fire with 24 people on board approximately 50 miles west off the coast of Monterey, California. The fire was put out and the ship was eventually towed to the Port of Oakland. No injuries were reported.

General Average was declared a few weeks after the ship’s arrival in port.

“Oakland imports with General Average Security posted can be released to customers by early next week, on or around August 16, 2021. It is to note that the discharged cargo with General Average Security posted will be in a temporary holding area until it can be shifted to the delivery area,” ONE said in an update.

For transshipment cargo, the wait may be a little longer. “Shipment with General Average security posted are planned to be connected to earliest available service as priority while shipment without security posted to be connected on subsequent available services,” ONE said.

NYK Delphinus was traveling from Fraser River, Canada at the Port of Vancouver to Oakland, California at the time of the fire. The Liberia-flagged ship is about 295 meters in length by 32 meters wide and was built in 2007.