Intense Blaze Erupts on Cargo Ship in Amsterdam's Harbor

A significant fire erupted on a cargo ship filled with scrap metal at the Amsterdam Scrap Terminal on Thursday, May 15, and continued into Friday.

The vessel in question is the Trade, a supramax bulk carrier weighing 58,096 deadweight tonnes. Registered under the Marshall Islands flag and built in 2011,it had just arrived from Le Havre,France on May 9 and was docked at Vlothavenweg in Amsterdam’s western port.

According to the Dutch fire brigade, flames ignited around 5:02 PM local time in cargo hold No. 4. Firefighters initially tried to combat the blaze by removing burning materials from that hold and extinguishing them ashore. This tactic worked temporarily; though, by early Friday morning around 6 AM, the fire spread to hold No.3.

The intense heat caused structural damage to hold No. 3’s hatches, making access impossible for emergency crews who had to rethink their approach entirely.

Throughout thursday night into Friday morning, firefighters utilized boats equipped with hoses as well as cranes and ladder trucks to spray water onto the ship while continuing debris removal efforts.

Social media captured public concern about this incident; one user shared their experience of respiratory issues after observing nearby wildlife during the fire’s peak intensity.

Authorities labeled this situation as complex due to how deeply embedded the scrap was within the ship’s structure—making it tough for responders to reach all areas of concern effectively.

By approximately 8:45 PM on Friday evening, officials confirmed that they had successfully extinguished all flames. However, thick smoke plumes drifted across various neighborhoods in Amsterdam and beyond throughout this ordeal.

In response to health concerns posed by smoke inhalation risks from soot particles released into residential areas—including Amstelveen and Zaanstreek—the Dutch government issued five NL-Alerts advising residents close windows and turn off ventilation systems when conditions worsened due to shifting winds carrying smoke toward central locations.

Residents reported unpleasant odors along with soot deposits affecting air quality but were reassured that toxic substance levels remained stable according to monitoring teams’ assessments. They advised keeping homes sealed against any incoming particles while also recommending cleaning surfaces exposed outside using warm soapy water if necessary.

Fortunately for everyone involved onboard Trade—no injuries were reported among crew members during this incident! The operator Diligent Holdings has since initiated an examination into what sparked such a dangerous event at a facility known for exporting scrap metal internationally—including destinations like Turkey!

Interestingly enough—a similar incident occurred just weeks prior involving another vessel at this very port! It raises questions about safety protocols within maritime operations dealing with hazardous materials like scrap metal recycling.