Fire Fighters Injured Battling Blaze on Car Carrier in Jacksonville
Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville watchstanders were notified at 3:53 p.m. of a fire on board the MV Höegh Xiamen, a 600-foot vehicle carrier.
The watchstanders immediately notified Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Mayport 45-foot Response Boat—Medium crew.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said on Twitter that several fire fighters were injured after an explosion.
All 21 crew members have been safely accounted for.
Local reports say as many as nine fire fighters may have been injured, including some serious.
Photos and video posted online shows the black smoke pouring from the vessel.
On scene are Coast Guard Station Mayport RB-M crew, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Blount Island Port Authority.
A 500-yard safety zone has been established around the MV Höegh Xiamen.
The 4,900 ceu capacity Höegh Xiamen is registered in Norway and was built in 2010. It is operated by Höegh Autoliners on a service connecting East Asia with North America and the Caribbean via the Panama Canal.
AIS ship tracking data showed the vessel last visited Freeport, Texas.
Jacksonville’s JAXPORT is one of the leading auto ports in the United States with more than 695,000 vehicles moved in 2019.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
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