What Crew Members Say About Langeland

The cargo fire that erupted aboard the freighter 'Langeland' in Agüimes' Port of Arinaga was successfully extinguished on December 10, shortly before 6 p.m., as confirmed by the Las Palmas Maritime Authority. Initial firefighting efforts were hampered; an attempt to suppress the flames using the ship's onboard extinguishing system fell short when the bow hatch, which had sustained electrical damage, was unable to close properly. Following expert recommendations, it was decided on the evening of December 9 to allow the fire to self-extinguish due to small explosions occurring and the risk of the vessel listing. Although the situation seemed manageable, the fire flared up again on the morning of December 10, prompting crews to escalate their response with water and foam from both the quay and a nearby tugboat's water cannon. The intense firefighting efforts caused the vessel to list to its starboard side due to the weight of the water applied. Once the flames were finally quelled, firefighters from the Gran Canaria Emergency Consortium boarded the ship to assess its condition, filling the hold with foam as a precautionary measure. After extinguishing operations concluded, the ship remained under surveillance by port police and its crew. Preliminary assessments suggest that the fire may have started spontaneously due to self-combustion related to the ship's scrap cargo during loading operations. Authorities including the Capitanía Marítima, Salvamento Marítimo, Port Authority of Las Palmas, and the Consorcio de Emergencias de Gran Canaria responded swiftly to the incident. Additionally, a retired vessel in the port vicinity was relocated for safety. An investigation into the fire's cause is expected to commence shortly.

On December 9, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a blaze ignited in the scrap-laden cargo hold of the vessel 'Langeland' while docked at the Arinaga port, located in the municipality of Agüimes, Gran Canaria. As cargo operations were underway, emergency services swiftly reacted to the unfolding crisis. The crew onboard initially attempted to extinguish the fire using their equipment, but the situation deteriorated rapidly with flames and smoke spreading quickly. Firefighters from the Gran Canaria Emergency Consortium were mobilized and employed a fire ladder to combat the blaze. Due to strong winds in the area, a significant plume of smoke rose and drifted southward. In a precautionary measure, part of the crew was evacuated to ensure their safety, while others remained aboard to assist with firefighting efforts. Port operations at Arinaga have been suspended for safety precautions until the fire is fully under control. Additionally, a helicopter from Salvamento Marítimo has been dispatched to the scene to provide aerial support. For further details and video coverage, visit the following links: [La Provincia](https://www.laprovincia.es/sucesos/sucesos-en-canarias/2024/12/09/conato-incendio-barco-muelle-arinaga-112466830.html), [Canarias7](https://www.canarias7.es/sucesos/arde-buque-puerto-arinaga-20241209205854-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.es%2F), [Antena 3](https://www.antena3.com/noticias/sociedad/arde-carguero-muelle-gran-canaria_20241210675829431258380001fad248.html).