by Lloyd's List
18 February 2025 (Lloyd's List) - A LARGE deepsea ro-ro cargoship operated by Italy’s Grimaldi with 28 personnel on board issued a mayday today following an onboard fire.
The 56,000 gt Grande Brasile (IMO: 9198123) issued the mayday call at 0930 hrs UTC while transiting the southwest-bound lane of the Dover Strait.
The ship is positioned approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of the port of Ramsgate and is understood to be without main engine power or steering.
After the fire later worsened the vessel’s crew deployed CO2 in efforts to extinguish the fire.
Lifeboats deployed from the UK and a Netherlands Coast Guard aircraft were tasked to the scene, while search and rescue resources were standing by in case the master chose to abandon the vessel.
The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the fire has since been contained after onboard fire-suppression systems were activated.
“The crew is accounted for and no injuries have been reported,” a spokesperson for the MCA said.
“The RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats from Dover and Ramsgate have been stood down after being sent as a precaution. A tug boat, Dutch fixed-wing aircraft and a French vessel with firefighting and towing capability have also been tasked to support,” the spokeperson said.
The 2000-built Grande Brasile was on passage from Antwerp to Le Havre and is deployed in Grimaldi’s northern Europe to West Africa liner service.
The vessel is laden with cars, containers and assorted rolling cargo.
