Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said the blaze that broke out on a containership in Jebel Ali Port was brought under control within 44 minutes.
The success in preventing the incident from becoming a major catastrophe was attributed to years of pro-active planned preparation and investment in a world-class safety infrastructure.
Jebel Ali, Dubai’s main port, was rocked by an explosion on the 210-teu Ocean Trader (built 1993), operated by Dubai-based Inzu Ship Charter, at 12:23am local time on Thursday (20:23pm GMT on Wednesday).
His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE minister of energy & infrastructure, said a swift, robust response by emergency services led to the resulting fire being brought under control in record time, preventing it from spreading to other areas in the port.
“The evacuation procedure of the ship’s crew and workers on the berth was carried out promptly. While containing the fire and ensuring no fatalities, the rescue team also took the necessary safety measures to ensure that there were no radioactive materials on the ship,” he said.
“This robust response comes as a result of years of pro-active planned preparation in developing world-class infrastructure in the ports and marine facilities in the UAE. Our primary aim is to place safety first, in addition to investing heavily in early warning systems and immediate communication with civil defence teams and the National Emergency Crisis & Disasters Management Authority.
“This approach has enabled us to take all necessary measures immediately. The concerted efforts of the teams and the availability of state-of-the-art equipment to tackle such an event ensured the resumption of all operational and logistical operations in Jebel Ali Port.”
The government’s priority now is to safeguard the marine environment by “monitoring the situation and preventing the release of harmful substances in the water body”.
“The maritime department at the ministry will continue investigations to gain insights and chart out a blueprint in coordination with the relevant international authorities to intensify precautionary measures,” Al Mazrouei said.
The Ocean Trader explosion was reportedly felt across Dubai, but damage to the port and surrounding ships was limited. No lives were reported lost.
“The logistics and operational facilities of Jebel Ali Port have not suffered any damage, and the accident has not affected the movement of ships due to its distance from the main shipping line and the water channel in the port,” Al Mazrouei said.
Inzu Ship Charter has yet to comment on the incident.
