NETHERLANDS – Fire breaks out on cargo ship undergoing repairs in Harlingen

A fire broke out early Monday, January 12, on a Dutch-flagged general cargo vessel undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Harlingen, the Netherlands. The incident occurred shortly before dawn while the ship was docked at the facility.

The vessel, Marry S, had arrived in Harlingen in mid-December 2025 for scheduled repair work and routine maintenance and had remained at the yard since that time.

The blaze reportedly started in the ship’s hold and spread quickly to other onboard areas. Smoke was already rising from the vessel when firefighters and emergency responders arrived at the scene.

Fire crews were able to bring the situation under control within a few hours, preventing further spread of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Authorities have since launched an investigation to establish the cause of the fire, and inspections are ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A review will also examine whether safety procedures were properly followed prior to the incident.

Photo credit: Jan de Vlas. All rights reserved.