Crew extinguishes fire on U.S.-flag ro/ro ship

A fire broke out in the engine room of the Alliance St. Louis on early Monday morning in the Gulf of Mexico.    A fire in the engine room of the U.S.-flag roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) ship Alliance St. Louis on early Monday morning was extinguished by its crew.
   There were no injuries to the 20 person crew, and there was no pollution or cargo damage, Alliance Navigation said.
   The ship is awaiting a tug, Crosby Endeavor, to arrive mid-day on Tuesday and tow it back to Port Arthur, Texas from its current location – approximately 150 miles south of Southwest Pass, La. The company said weather in the area is calm and the ship is expected to arrive in Port Arthur on Friday, Jan. 20.
   The ship departed Port Arthur on Sunday, Jan. 15 and was en route to Jacksonville, Fla. when the fire occurred.
   A tug, Mariya Moran, responded to the incident as a “good Samaritan,” and has since been relieved by the Coast Guard Cutter Brant.
   The Alliance St. Louis is currently on emergency back-up power, which allows minimum crew needs to be met.
   Coast Guard Morgan City Marine Safety Unit inspectors and investigators are looking into the cause of the incident.
   The Alliance St. Louis was built in 2005 and is one of four U.S.-flag ro/ro ships operated by Alliance Navigation in Jacksonville. The company is part of the privately-held Oslo-based Höegh Autoliners. A.P. Moller Maersk owns a minority 38.75 percent stake in Höegh Autoliners, according to the company’s website.