The ship’s anchor was successfully raised, and the MSC Sao Paulo V’s departure ban was lifted on March 8, allowing the Ocean Taiga and Ocean K. Rusby to start towing operations. Towing began Friday evening, bound for the port of Québec.
As it is reported from the Canadian Coast Guard, the time of arrival will vary based on the towing speed and the weather, whilst no pollution from the vessel has been detected.
To remind, the Transport Canada prohibited the vessel last week from departing. “The fire on board MSC Sao Paulo V is nearly extinguished, but there is still a high smoke and CO2 content on board. Ventilation of the vessel will be required for a minimum of 24 hours before anybody can move freely on it without protective equipment,” the authorities said.
The MSC Sao Paulo V, a container ship, issued a call on March 3, 2024 for help for an onboard fire in the engine room. The ship had left Montréal in the morning and was heading for Portugal. It is of Liberian origin and is 294 meters long.
During the night, two pilot boats from the Laurentian Pilotage Authority moved to rescue the ship, as well as the icebreaker Amundsen.
As reported last Wednesday by the Canadian coast guard, some comings and goings of crew members and firefighters have been carried out with the help of tugs over the past few days, to relay members aboard the Sao Paulo V so they can rest, and to bring in supplies and food.
The tugs also proceeded to spray the hull and the ship to cool it. There have been no injuries or pollution observed from the vessel into the marine environment.
Source: Canadian coast guard
