The ENL Consortium operating a cargo terminal at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa has clarified reports of a fire on Friday last week aboard a cargo ship, Chang Min (IMO 9622801), which berthed at its facility.
A statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) signed its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that “Following distress alerts at 1755hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from the Cobra Base in Onipanu. Upon arrival at the scene, a cargo ship CHANG MIN laden with cargo which included CNG trucks, wooden products, tyres, and other highly combustible products was observed to have caught fire within section two of the cargo hold.”
He said that preliminary investigations by emergency responders revealed that the fire started at the point of unloading and the cause is yet to be ascertained at the time of report.
According to the report, no life was lost, and no injuries were sustained as all seafarers on board were accounted for.
He said the Cobra response team and other responders sealed off the affected cargo hold to restrict oxygen flow and suppress the flames followed by a careful planned firefighting operation that allowed crews to re-enter the compartment and fully extinguish the blaze.
However, the statement by the ENL Consortium clarified that what occurred was emission of smoke from one of the hatches of the ship — a situation that was swiftly identified and effectively curtailed without escalation.
“There was absolutely no naked fire on the ship,” the statement emphasized. “The smoke was quickly traced, and our emergency response team acted immediately in line with established safety protocols. The situation was promptly brought under control.”
The company statement emphasized its unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and emergency preparedness. It stated that quick and professional handling of the incident highlights the company’s strong safety culture and the effectiveness of its rapid response systems and decried inaccurate and exaggerated reports which it enjoined media outlets to avoid by verifying information and not sensationalizing incidents.