IEN Radio

Fatal Fire Traced to Incorrect Valve

Eric Sorensen

On January 8, 2024, a fire broke out in the engine room aboard the 598-foot-long Stride​ cargo vessel while it was refueling at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal in La Porte, Texas, about 25 miles east of Houston. Crewmembers cut all ventilation to the engine room to extinguish the fire, but not before two crewmembers, a chief engineer and a third engineer, lost their lives. Another worker was seriously injured in the incident as well.

The vessel was declared a total loss valued at $12 million, and the operating company, Danaos Shipping Company, which is based in Greece, scrapped the entire ship.