Fire on HMM Platinum: 2,300 Containers at Risk as Ship Heads
A 5,593 TEU containership suffers blaze off Madagascar, forcing salvage under Lloyd’s Open Form and potential general.
A containership operated by HMM is heading to South Africa for emergency repairs after a fire broke out in one of its cargo holds, forcing the vessel to abandon its voyage and triggering a complex salvage operation.
The HMM Platinum, a Liberian-flagged vessel with a capacity of 5,593 TEU, was en route from Kattupalli, India, to Santos, Brazil, when the blaze erupted. The fire started in a container near Lavanono, off the southern tip of Madagascar, according to cargo claims specialists. The 2013-built ship was carrying around 2,300 containers, some of which contain temperature-sensitive goods.
Salvage experts from SMIT have been appointed under Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF), a widely used maritime salvage contract. This arrangement means that the costs of the operation will likely be shared among the shipowner, cargo owners, and insurers under the principle of general average—a rule that requires all parties with a financial stake in the voyage to contribute proportionally to expenses incurred to save the vessel and its cargo.
HMM
Fire disrupts Asia-Brazil route: HMM Platinum
Initial plans had the HMM Platinum diverting to Durban, with an expected arrival on October 8. However, the latest updates indicate that alternative ports are being considered. Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, has been identified as a potential destination for the damaged vessel.
Claims specialist W.E. Cox has warned that the damage to the ship and its cargo could be substantial, though full assessments will only be possible once the vessel reaches a safe harbor. The incident highlights the logistical and financial challenges that arise when a major containership is forced off its scheduled route due to an emergency.
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