Firefighters completely extinguished the fire aboard vehicle carrier Auto Banner (IMO 8608066) at the port of Incheon on May 24th after three days. The fire gutted about 1,500 used cars. A total of 2,438 used cars were on the ship when the blaze broke out on deck 11 during the morning of May 21st. The blaze also gutted decks 12 and 13. About 840 firefighters and some 240 fire trucks were mobilized to fight the fire.
Fire officials were trying to determine the exact cause of the blaze and the amount of damage, but said that it would take at least a month to examine the scene completely.
Coast Guard officials have also interviewed shipping firm officials and crew members, including the ship’s boatswain from Myanmar. The fire apparently started in the front of a car on the ship’s 11th deck.. 1988-built, Panama-flagged, 52,422 gt Auto Banner is owned by Atinum Marine No Five SA care of manager Hyundai Glovis Co Ltd of Seoul, South Korea. ISM manager is KLC SM Co Ltd. It is entered with Steamship Mutual (Smuab) (Eastern Syndicate) on behalf of Atinum Marine No Five SA