North Sea Container Ship Fire Under Control, Emergency Response Scaled Back

A major incident unfolded aboard the Victoria L, a 528-foot container ship sailing under the Liberian flag, after an explosion triggered a fire in the engine room while it was traveling northwest of Hoek van Holland. The Dutch Coastguard responded swiftly, deploying multiple vessels, helicopters, and specialized firefighters to the scene.

The blaze, which initially proved difficult to control and reignited at one point, has now been fully extinguished. Thermal imaging was used to assess the situation before firefighters entered the engine room. Although smoke still lingers aboard, officials have confirmed the fire is out.

All 19 crew members have been accounted for and are unharmed, though some reportedly jumped overboard during the emergency. With no cargo onboard, the ship was en route from Hamburg to Rotterdam when the incident occurred. Emergency response units—including lifeboats, tugs, an oil spill response vessel, and helicopters—were rapidly dispatched.

The vessel is now expected to continue to Rotterdam under its own power, though a tugboat will remain on standby nearby in case the situation changes. Photos released by the coastguard show the ship surrounded by emergency vessels and a helicopter hovering overhead.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Photo credit: TradeWinds. All rights reserved.