Hapag-Lloyd’s Yantian Express sailed from Columbo, Sri Lanka, in December 2018, but in January the ship was struck by fire while at sea on 2 January 2019 and disabled. High winds hampered rescue efforts and while the crew was evacuated without injury it took a week for the fire to be extinguished. Hapag-Lloyd declared General Average on 25 January.
The vessel spent the next four months at Freeport, Bahamas, for repairs and inspection of cargo. According to the Halifax Chronical-Herald, approximately 200 of the containers aboard were deemed lost, but most of the remainder was reloaded on the vessel which left Freeport on 15 May and arrived at Halifax on 20 May.
Cargo will be delivered to consignees in the usual course of business, provided that general average security has been paid. Cargo without security coverage cannot be forwarded to its final destination; cargo owners that have not already done so should contact Hapag-Lloyd‘s nominated adjusters, Richard Hogg Lindley(RHL).