The owner of a German boxship that suffered a fire off Singapore is aiming to share the costs of cargo and other damage.
The company, VC N Jupiter Shipping of Hamburg, has declared general average on the 8,814-teu Northern Jupiter (built 2010). The ship was hit by a blaze in its main engine on 4 January while in the Malacca Straits en route to Port Klang in Malaysia on 4 January.
Japanese liner company Ocean Network Express (ONE) said it had been notified by VC N Jupiter Shipping that it had declared the general average, a principle of maritime law through which all stakeholders in a voyage can share losses resulting from casualties.
The fire was extinguished on the V.Ships-managed ship, but the engine suffered damage.
The vessel was anchored in the Straits and awaited clearance from Malaysian maritime authorities to be towed back to a Singapore anchorage for a further assessment.
Towed back to Singapore
On 8 January, the vessel completed the classification survey report to DNV GL and it was submitted together with the towage plan to Malaysia for approval.
The Portugal-flagged Northern Jupiter arrived back in Singapore on 14 January for a detailed inspection.
The shipowner has appointed Stichling Hahn Hilbrich as average adjuster.
The company will arrange for the collection of general average security from parties with interests in its cargo, containers and bunkers. The ship has insurance from the London P&I Club.
It has not been detained by port state control since it was delivered.
Boxship fires have been in the headlines in recent months as a major safety concern, but blazes usually break out in cargo containers.
