Ocean Network Express has started unloading the remaining containers from the fire-damaged vessel ONE Henry Hudson at the Port of Los Angeles. This marks an important new stage in what the U.S. Coast Guard is calling the most complex salvage operation in recent port history.
The ship is currently docked at Yusen Terminal after the removal of water and damaged cargo was completed on January 12. According to the latest update from the company, full container unloading is set to begin around the middle of the week.
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Stacey Crecy, who is in charge of the incident response, mentioned that the operation has required outstanding cooperation. “The initial firefighting effort, moving the vessel to a safe anchorage, and bringing it back to the dock were all critical tasks that needed careful planning and execution,” Crecy explained. “Now, we enter a new phase where we will properly remove and dispose of the damaged cargo and firefighting water. I am confident the team will handle the upcoming work safely and efficiently.”
The emergency started in late November when a fire broke out in the lower-deck compartments while the ship was docked. All 23 crew members were safely evacuated as nearly 200 firefighters from Los Angeles responded. An explosion in the middle of the ship knocked out its power, forcing the crew to fight the fire from the pier.
General Average surveyor Ken Shortall has begun organizing cargo surveys, which are set to start on January 14. The ship's owner, Fukujin Kisen, has declared General Average, a maritime principle that shares extraordinary losses among ship and cargo interests when property is sacrificed to save a voyage. Richards Hogg Lindley has been appointed as an average adjuster to collect necessary securities and documentation.
Under the General Average declaration, cargo will not be released until final arrangements are made with the adjuster, who will work directly with cargo owners and insurers.
This operation has been quite complicated. Cargo hold 03 was estimated to be flooded by up to 80 percent during the firefighting efforts. Salvage company DONJON-SMIT brought in experts from around the world, and all waste, including contaminated firefighting water, was disposed of according to an approved waste-management plan and sent to licensed treatment facilities.
The fire temporarily shut down four of the seven container terminals at the port and led to closures on State Route 47 because of heavy smoke, although operations resumed within a few days. The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a joint investigation into what caused the incident.
Once containers clear the General Average and salvage-security requirements, shipments headed for Los Angeles will be released at Yusen Terminal for local pickup or delivery. Cargo bound for Oakland can be picked up in Los Angeles after customs clearance or transported north by ONE. Export cargo will continue to be sent to its destination unless customers request changes.