Fire Erupts on Ship Grande Brasile in the English Channel
In a dramatic international rescue operation, all 28 crew members of the roll-on/roll-off container vessel (Con-ro), Grande Brasile, were safely evacuated after a fire broke out on board while the ship was sailing through the English Channel on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
The Grande Brasile, operated by the Grimaldi Group and registered in Malta, was approximately 15 miles (25 kilometers) off the coast of Ramsgate, England, when it issued a Mayday call at around 9:35 a.m. The incident sparked a coordinated response involving UK, Dutch, French, and Belgian authorities, showcasing a robust display of international maritime cooperation.
Fire Erupts Twice Onboard
According to reports, the crew initially managed to contain the blaze using the vessel’s onboard fire suppression systems. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when a second fire ignited at around 4:25 p.m., prompting the escalation of the rescue efforts.
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) quickly took charge of the situation, deploying a range of assets including a helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft, and lifeboats from Dover and Ramsgate. The Dutch Coast Guard, whose aircraft from Schiphol was the first on the scene, provided critical reconnaissance, relaying vital information and imagery to the British Coast Guard.
The Belgian Coast Guard also joined the operation, contributing a helicopter to support the rescue mission. A spokesperson for the HM Coastguard highlighted the involvement of multiple agencies, including the Deal, Folkestone, Langdon, and Margate Coastguard Rescue Teams, as well as the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the UK Border Force.
Evacuation and Crew Safety
By 10 p.m., the escalating fire forced the evacuation of the entire crew. The 28 sailors boarded the ship’s lifeboat approximately 12 nautical miles off Ramsgate, where they were safely picked up by a tugboat involved in the operation. They were then transferred to the Ramsgate lifeboat and brought ashore, where they were met by the South East Coast Ambulance Service. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Following the successful evacuation, salvage operations were initiated. The tug Multratug 35 managed to establish a towing connection with the burning vessel, while additional support ships, including Multratug 36, Kamara, and the French Coast Guard vessel Abeille Normandie, remained on site to assist.
Salvage and Investigation Underway
Smit Salvage, a leading salvage company, has been contracted to tow the Grande Brasile to a safe port. Automatic Identification System (AIS) data later showed that the vessel was “Not Under Command,” drifting at a slow pace of one knot, signaling potential challenges in navigation and control.
The Grimaldi Group confirmed that relevant authorities were promptly notified after the initial fire broke out and praised the crew’s swift action in deploying fire suppression measures. However, the second outbreak of fire necessitated the full evacuation. The company also stated that tugboats aided boundary cooling efforts to contain and limit the blaze.
Initial assessments have not indicated any fuel spillage or stability issues. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation will be conducted in coordination with maritime safety authorities. Grimaldi expressed its commitment to fully cooperate with investigators to determine the source of the fire.
A Troubling Pattern of Fires
The Grande Brasile incident is the latest in a string of fires involving vessels operated by the Grimaldi Group. In March 2019, the Con-Ro Grande America caught fire and sank in the Bay of Biscay after a container on deck ignited. Just two months later, in May 2019, a fire broke out on the vehicle carrier Grande Europa near Mallorca, Spain.
More recently, in July 2023, the Grande Costa d’Avorio was engulfed in flames at Port Newark, New Jersey, leading to a near week-long blaze that claimed the lives of two Newark firefighters. These repeated incidents raise concerns about safety protocols and fire prevention measures on board Grimaldi-operated vessels.
Safety and Insurance
Despite the latest incident, the Grande Brasile had maintained a spotless safety record. Insured through the Britannia P&I Club in the UK, the vessel had not recorded any port state control detention over the past 17 years. Routine safety checks conducted last year did not reveal any deficiencies, adding to the mystery surrounding the cause of the fire.
The international maritime community will be watching closely as the investigation unfolds, eager to understand the factors that led to this latest maritime emergency. For now, the successful rescue of all crew members stands as a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated emergency response efforts at sea.
Further updates are expected as the salvage operation progresses and investigators work to determine the origin of the blaze.
