The owners of the containership ONE Henry Hudson have declared General Average following a multi-day fire at the Port of Los Angeles. This adds a financial aspect to what officials are calling one of the most challenging salvage operations in recent port history.

The declaration was made when the ship returned to its berth at Yusen Terminal late Wednesday. The focus has shifted from active firefighting to removing damaged cargo and thousands of gallons of contaminated water used to fight the fire. Richards Hogg Lindley has been appointed as Average Adjusters to help coordinate the collection of necessary paperwork from cargo owners.

The vessel is owned by Fukujin Kisen and is chartered to Ocean Network Express (ONE).

Due to the General Average declaration, cargo will not be released until proper arrangements are made with the Average Adjusters, who will work directly with cargo owners and their insurance companies.

The emergency began last Friday evening when a fire broke out in the lower deck while the vessel was docked. All 23 crew members were safely evacuated as nearly 200 firefighters from Los Angeles responded to the incident. A major explosion that evening knocked out the ship's power, forcing the crew to retreat and fight the fire from the pier.

“The initial firefighting efforts, moving the vessel to a safe location, and returning to pier were critical operations that required careful planning,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy, Incident Commander. “Now we enter a new phase where damaged cargo and firefighting water will be properly removed and disposed of. I’m confident that the team will carry out these tasks safely and effectively.”

After assessing hazmat risks, Unified Command ordered the vessel to be moved offshore, where it anchored about one mile off Angel's Gate Lighthouse for ongoing firefighting efforts. The ship returned under escort by the Los Angeles Port Police, fire boats, the U.S. Coast Guard, and tug operators.

The salvage phase presents significant logistical challenges. Cargo inspections will determine which containers are fire-damaged, water-damaged, or undamaged. The salvage team, DONJON-SMIT, has brought in experts from around the world to assist with the operation. Cargo hold 03 is estimated to be 80% flooded from initial firefighting efforts, although the vessel's stability remains within safe limits.

All waste on board, including contaminated firefighting water, will be disposed of according to an approved waste management plan, with contaminated water being taken to treatment facilities.

“We appreciate our partners who effectively contained and extinguished the fire on the ONE Henry Hudson,” the Port of Los Angeles stated. “With community safety as our top priority, their heroic efforts allowed for the safe transport of the ship.”

Air quality monitoring by L.A. Port Police is ongoing, and all measurements are below state and federal action levels. The incident temporarily closed four of the seven container terminals and caused shutdowns on State Route 47 due to smoke, but port operations have since resumed.

Both the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a joint investigation into what caused the incident.