Smoke at Beirut Port Traced to Reignited Fire Inside Isolated Container
The Beirut Port Authority said the smoke seen this morning was the result of a limited flare-up inside an isolated container that caught fire on Monday. It said the port’s firefighting team responded immediately, with support from the Beirut Fire Brigade and Civil Defense, and managed to cool the container down again and extinguish the blaze.
The incident began on Monday when a small fire broke out in one of the containers aboard a vessel at sea as it was heading toward the Port of Beirut. The ship’s captain later reported that the flames had been brought under control.
The port administration and the Lebanese Navy were notified and promptly moved to the vessel’s location offshore, in coordination with the Port Security Officer (PSO) and Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) at the Port of Beirut. After verifying that the fire had been fully extinguished and contained, authorities allowed the vessel to enter the port and dock at Berth 16, under heightened security and safety measures, with support from the Beirut Fire Brigade, the port’s firefighting unit, the Lebanese Army rescue center, and the container terminal management.
Following the vessel’s arrival, specialized teams began removing the container from the ship. The operation was carried out in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and under the highest safety standards to protect the crew, employees, port facilities, and the vessel. No injuries or additional damage were reported.
