Working Conditions Aboard the Grande-Argentina

On September 15, 2025, at approximately 5:30 PM, the Hamburg Fire Department swiftly responded to a smoldering incident aboard the vehicle carrier 'Grande Argentina', docked at the O'Swald Quay terminal in Hanse Port since September 12, after arriving from Antwerp. Fire crews, equipped with specialized firefighting tools for maritime emergencies, were deployed when a tractor unit on the ship's upper deck ignited. This tractor was towing a trailer that contained another tractor, a truck, and a car. The prompt actions of the ship's crew, who utilized two C-hoses to combat the smoke from the burning tractor, played a crucial role in managing the situation. Upon arrival, over 40 firefighters found that the fire was already extinguished, allowing them to conduct a thorough follow-up inspection to ensure there were no lingering hazards. They monitored the area’s temperature and continued cooling efforts for a while. Given that the affected deck was densely packed with vehicles, the situation could have escalated further without the crew's effective response. Thanks to their excellent training, the firefighters were able to clear the scene in just under an hour.

On March 16, 2023, authorities in Antwerp made a noteworthy cocaine seizure believed to be connected to the Grimaldi vessel 'Grande Argentina', which was docked at quay 1333. Customs officials characterized the confiscated shipment as a substantial quantity, though they withheld details on the precise amount, estimating it to be several hundred kilograms. The seizure was prompted by suspicious activities observed in the area. Following this, customs officials conducted a thorough inspection of two vans, where the illegal cargo was ultimately discovered. This incident echoes the alarming kidnapping case involving Mo 'De Skull' A. from Wilrijk, which occurred in late February near a parking area along the E19 in Rumst, shortly after another significant cocaine shipment, weighing one ton, went missing. That earlier shipment also reportedly entered Belgium aboard one of the Grimaldi ships that docked at the same quay 1333.