Reviews & Ratings for the Yantian-Express

Hapag-Lloyd is poised to resolve a significant portion of the claims stemming from the fire incident involving the 'Yantian Express' that occurred in the early hours of January 3, 2019. This intricate case, which encompasses claims totaling approximately $120 million, appears to be nearing a conclusion. The company has accepted the terms of a settlement agreement focused on finalizing the salvage aspects of the ongoing claims. These negotiations are part of a protracted legal dispute taking place in a New York federal court, which addresses the fire that ravaged both the vessel and its cargo during its voyage across the North Atlantic. To date, the litigation has generated around 4,500 claims, highlighting the extensive losses attributed to the incident. Following the casualty, Hapag-Lloyd declared general average, a principle enabling stakeholders involved in the shipping process to collectively absorb the losses. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was possibly ignited by a misdeclared cargo of charcoal.

On May 12, 2025, the 'Yantian Express' was anchored in the waters southwest of Heligoland when the Maritime Situation Center of the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies received a report concerning a suspected fire. Responding promptly, several vessels, including the Water Police vessel 'Sylt', the Federal Police ship 'Neustadt', and the emergency tug 'Nordic' from the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, Water Police officers boarded the freighter and consulted with the crew, noting that no visible smoke was present at the time of inspection. The cause of the smoke report from one of the containers remained a mystery. Given the unclear situation and the presence of hazardous materials aboard, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies took control of the incident response. The Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) from Cuxhaven was also deployed, arriving by Federal Police helicopter. Six skilled firefighters were lowered onto the freighter to inspect the alleged source of smoke and the surrounding area, conducting temperature readings and thorough assessments. Finding no indicators of danger, the MIRG concluded its operations and transferred control to the 'German Bight Traffic' control center situated in Wilhelmshaven. Following these events, the 'Yantian Express' lifted its anchor and made its way to Hamburg. The vessel was scheduled to depart again on May 14, continuing on to Rotterdam with an expected arrival on May 16.

On January 30, 2020, Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) unveiled a comprehensive report regarding the catastrophic fire aboard the MV 'Yantian Express'. The investigation suggests that the fire, which erupted in the early hours of January 3, 2019, was likely ignited by a misdeclared shipment of charcoal. At the time of the incident, the 'Yantian Express' was navigating the North Atlantic when a blaze ignited in a container positioned on the deck above Hold 2. The crew faced daunting conditions characterized by winds reaching Force 8-9, along with frigid temperatures and rain, making firefighting efforts extremely challenging. By late on January 3, the crew had exhausted their supply of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air tanks, forcing them to halt active firefighting. Nonetheless, they succeeded in establishing fire hoses to cool the perimeter to prevent further spread. Responding to a request from the shipowner, the offshore tug 'Smit Nicobar' redirected to the scene, utilizing its firefighting monitors starting January 4. Unfortunately, the blaze continued to rage uncontrollably. A group of 11 crew members evacuated to the 'Smit Nicobar', followed by the remaining crew on the afternoon of January 6. A small team returned on January 7 to initiate a towing connection with the large offshore tug 'Maersk Mobilizer', which had also been diverted to assist. By January 15, a contingent of professional firefighters and salvors arrived aboard the AHTS 'Sovereign', where they effectively extinguished all burning containers on the deck by January 21. Efforts continued below deck in Hold 1 until January 26. The 'Maersk Mobilizer' subsequently towed the damaged vessel to Freeport in the Bahamas, where inspections commenced. Upon examination of the containers positioned near the fire's origin, BSU officials discovered a box that had been declared as containing coconut pellets was, in fact, filled with coconut charcoal, or pyrochar. Laboratory tests indicated that this charcoal could ignite at temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit). Given the absence of other identifiable ignition sources, BSU investigators propose that this misdeclared cargo likely served as the fire's origin. The combustion of pyrochar might have triggered an inferno that ignited adjacent polypropylene bags, fostering the fire's rapid spread. It’s worth noting that flammable materials with self-ignition potential require specific testing and shipping certifications, and the BSU could not discount the possibility that the shipper misdeclared the contents to circumvent compliance regulations. The report also highlighted several significant challenges the crew faced during firefighting efforts. Notably, the CO2 flooding system in Hold 1 failed to fully activate due to a malfunction in its time-delay mechanism. While this did not directly influence the fire’s trajectory, it posed potential risks under different conditions. Additionally, crew members reported difficulties in extinguishing fires beneath deck containers due to structural barriers, which hindered effective water application. Problems were compounded by accumulated water from firefighting efforts that rendered the electrical bilge well valve controls in Hold 2 inoperative, delaying water removal until sufficient portable bilge pumping solutions were deployed. Similar challenges plagued bilge operations in Hold 1, likely due to debris causing clogs. By January 11, the water in Hold 2 reached a depth of 40 feet, causing the 'Yantian Express' to experience a forward trim of approximately four feet. For the full investigation report, visit: [BSU Report](https://www.bsu-bund.de/SharedDocs/pdf/DE/Unfallberichte/2020/Untersuchungsbericht_15_19.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1).

The efficient unloading of undamaged containers from the 'Yantian Express' commenced on May 21 at the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ocean Network Express (ONE), in collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd, has announced that this extensive discharge operation is anticipated to span at least 12 days. A total of over 3,200 containers are scheduled to be removed from the vessel. While the entire discharge process is estimated to require approximately 85 hours, the 'Yantian Express' will periodically need to relocate to accommodate other vessels that frequently call at the port. Consequently, the actual unloading timeframe is projected to extend to 12 days or more. During this operation, containers will be categorized based on whether general average and salvage security have been paid. Those with security will be prioritised for delivery, while those without will remain on hold, as the terminal cannot access specific containers once they are stacked ashore. To facilitate the swift handling of secured containers, they will be transferred to rail or transshipment vessels efficiently. After the discharge is completed, the 'Yantian Express' will reload empty containers to ensure stability for its upcoming journey to Asia, where permanent repairs will be conducted.