Fire Breaks Out on Cargo Ship in English Channel, Crew Safe

A fire broke out on the Grande Brasile, a Grimaldi cargo vessel, while it was transiting the English Channel on February 18. Although the blaze has been contained, the ship has lost both propulsion and steering.

The vessel sent out a distress call at approximately 9:35 AM, reporting the fire and the subsequent mechanical failure. At the time of the incident, the ship was about 15 nautical miles off the coast of Ramsgate, England, traveling from Antwerp, Belgium, to Le Havre, France.

In response, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK MCA) dispatched the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which quickly sent lifeboats to the scene. Upon arrival, rescuers found that all 28 crew members were unharmed, and the fire had been contained to a single deck. The crew had also activated the vessel’s fire suppression system to manage the situation.

With no immediate danger to the crew, the lifeboats returned to their station. Meanwhile, a tugboat, a Dutch fixed-wing surveillance aircraft, and a French firefighting vessel remain on standby to provide additional assistance if needed.