Activities at Ports and Cargo Terminal berth 7 and 8 at Tin Can Island port, Lagos, were disrupted for hours when a crane caught fire and affected a vessel, MV. ALGECIRAS EXPRESS, which was loaded with containers.
The Guardian learnt that the crane caught fire while off-loading containers from the vessel, which extended to the vessel and other containers.
It was gathered that the fire involving a Liebherr crane and Mv Hapag – Lloyd was caused by a mechanical fault, which reportedly raged for about four hours before it was brought under control by firemen .
Though the Port Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was yet to confirm the incident, at press time, an official of NPA said the situation was brought under control by firemen after spending almost four hours at the scene of the incident.
He said: “The fire incident emanated from a crane that was off loading containers from an MSC vessel.
“It also affected containers on top of the vessel. The vessel was also affected. The situation has been brought under control by firemen spending almost four hours at the scene of the incident.”
A staff of the affected MV. ALGECIRAS EXPRESS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two units of the containers were affected.
He said they have already been discharged to check if the commodity inside is affected, adding that no life was lost.
