Containership catches fire in North Sea

A fire broke out on the Marshall Islands-flagged Purple Beach, causing the crew to evacuate due to toxic gas and fears of explosion.    The containership Purple Beach caught fire Monday night on its way from the Port of Immingham, England to the German port of Brake, near Bremerhaven. Although the initial fire was believed to be extinguished, it began again on Tuesday, causing the ship’s crew to evacuate amid fears of toxic gas and potential explosion.
   The 33,722-ton deadweight Purple Beach is operated by short sea carrier Macs Shipping and was carrying large amounts of fertilizer, a highly flammable cargo, from the United Kingdom to Germany.
   Maritime publication Splash said the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel has been deemed too dangerous to board and that officials fear the ship could sink in the event of an explosion.
   The BBC reports German officials have told residents near Bremerhaven “to keep windows and doors shut as a strong smell was reported in the area” and that the fire was still burning early Wednesday morning.
   The British news outlet said a total of 36 people, including 22 crew members, have been admitted to a nearby hospital for inhaling toxic gas, the product of burning fertilizer, but that none were in critical condition. 
   By AS Daily’s noon publication time, no public comment had been released by Macs Shipping regarding the incident.