Panic spread in the South Korean port of Ulsan after a fire broke out yesterday morning on board the Cape Town Eagle. Hold number 4 caught fire while the ship was berthed alongside the quay loading a consignment of terephthalic acid.
A large cloud of black smoke swept across the quay. The local fire brigade immediately arrived on the scene and set to work, putting out the fire at around 3.30 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported.
According to the first reports, 5700 tonnes of PTA, used to produce new PET suitable for manufacturing plastic bottles, caught fire.
Translation by Giles Foster