Crews, firefighters board MV Zim Kingston to assess damage and next moves, says Coast Guard

The company responsible for the cargo ship incapacitated nearVictoria, B.C., on Saturday, after several containers carrying toxic material caught fire, says a team hasnow boarded the Zim Kingston to assess the damage.

On Monday, the Canadian Coast Guard grantedpermissionto the teamwhich included sevencrew members ofthe vessel and a number of firefighters, according to a statementfrom management company Danaos Shipping Co.

During a media briefingTuesday, the federal incident commander with the Canadian Coast Guard said theimmediate concern is stabilization on the ship.

"As we reported, the flames are out, containers are still smoldering with crewsso close to them. They know which ones are hot and are going to want to take a look inside of it," JJ Brickett said.

It could stilltake several days to fully suppress the hot spotsinside the containers, according to the chief of the unified command, Paul Barrett.

The ship first ran into trouble on Oct.22, when it lost 40 of its shipping containers in rough waters, 70 kilometres west of the Juan de Fuca Strait, which separates Washington state and Vancouver Island.

The Coast Guard said at the time the MV Zim Kingston wascarrying more than 52,000 kilogramsof xanthates,which includes potassium amylxanthate, housed in two of the containers that wereon fire aboard the ship.

Potassium amylxanthate is listedas a "reactive flammable material" by theCanadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

The compound, which is used in mining, is classified by the U.S. government as"spontaneously combustible." Potassium amylxanthateis alsotoxic to marine life.

Smoke dispersing

As of Tuesday, theCoast Guard identified three burning containers still smouldering on deck.

Company Danaos says modelling from Environment Canada indicates the toxic smoke plumeis dispersing before it reaches any populated areas.

Brickett added that once crews on boardhaveestablished ifthere are any internal fires in those containers, and what's inside them, thenCoast Guard will be able to determine the next move.

"Parallel to all of this are discussions that are going to take place as to where [the Zim Kingston]will wind up," Brickett said.

The company said it has been working closely with local authorities andfollowing all actions necessary to mitigate the consequences of the incident.

The contents of the 40 lost containers remains unknown, however, the Coast Guard said it believes some of the 20-foot long boxeshave been spotted in the water at the northern tip of Vancouver Island near Cape Scott.

Anyone with information or sightings of the containers is asked to call 1-800-889-8852