More than 100 containers fell off cargo ship on fire near Victoria

The fire aboard a cargo ship off the coast of Victoria is under control but the Canadian Coast Guard is clarifying that more than double the number of cargo containers went overboard than initially thought.

A total of 106 containers — not 40, as previously reported — of toys, clothing, automotive parts, industrial parts and furniture went off the side of the ship when it hit rough seas near Port Angeles.

The fire onboard MV Zim Kingston burning about 8km from the Victoria shore has “stabilized” — which is why the crew was able to safely access the container bays on the ship and confirm the number of containers.

According to a tweet thread from the coast guard, Unified Command expects some of the containers have sunk and the Environmental Unit will assess for potential impacts.

“No containers or debris have been reported onshore, however, the National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) and our helicopters will be searching today, depending on weather,” a tweet reads.

Contents of other containers overboard include toys, clothing, automotive parts, industrial parts and furniture. Unified Command expects that some of the containers have sunk and the Environmental Unit will assess for potential impacts.

— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) October 27, 2021

The coast guard says it’s possible some containers may wash up on the beach. They’ve been tracked moving northward along the west coast of Vancouver Island and some have been spotted off Cape Scott on the northern tip of the island.

According to Danaos Shipping, which owns the ship, the trouble began when the containers fell into the water as the ship approached Vancouver in choppy waters.

Two containers on the vessel were reported to have caught fire after that happened.

Some of the burning containers on the deck held 52,000 kg of a hazardous material identified as potassium amyl xanthate, the coast guard previously said. This led to environmental and other concerns, with the ship being near the coastline off Vancouver Island.

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According to the coast guard, the ship is expected to continue smoldering at least for several days.

The agency says crews continue to work to fully suppress the fire, which, on Sunday, had been described as “stabilized.”

At least five fires continue to burn to some degree in damaged containers believed to be storing tires on the Greek-registered Zim Kingston.

On Tuesday, the coast guard reported six firefighters were able to board the ship Monday night, along with seven crew members from the vessel itself.

If you see containers wash up, the coast guard is urging the public to avoid opening or moving them due to the hazardous contents of some of the containers. If you see one, instead call 1-800-889-8852 immediately.