The ministry explained that the fire broke out unexpectedly on July 28, in four containers aboard a Liberia-registered ship, which was sailing about 190 nautical miles northwest of Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands. This posed a threat to the safety of the crew and international shipping lines, according to China’s Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport stated, “Upon receiving the alarm, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau dispatched a patrolling ship to the incident site, and a helicopter was deployed to provide real-time assessments of the fire and ensure efficient coordination.”
According to the ministry, the fire was fully extinguished by 2 PM on July 30, while intensive inspections continued until the evening of August 1 to ensure no residual risks remained.
The operation resulted in saving lives and preventing marine pollution, as stated by the ministry, which also noted that the rescue ship remains on-site to secure the damaged container and ensure its safe voyage resumption.
The ministry affirmed that this successful operation reflects China’s capability to handle open-sea emergencies and underscores its commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining navigation stability in the South China Sea.
