A cargo ship off the coast of Alaska has been engulfed in a lithium-ion battery fire that burned for several days, but the crew is now safe after responders managed to extinguish the blaze on Sunday. The incident began on Thursday morning when the crew of the cargo ship, Genius Star XI, alerted the US Coast Guard about a fire in their hold. The ship was carrying lithium-ion batteries from Vietnam to San Diego, California. In order to prevent an explosion, the crew took immediate action by pumping carbon dioxide into the hold and sealing it.

The US Coast Guard swiftly diverted the ship to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where it docked two miles off the coast to ensure that the fire and any toxic gases did not pose a threat to the nearby community. The ship's owners, Wisdom Marine Group, confirmed that the fire did not result in any oil leaks. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the 19 crew members.

Over the course of several days, the fire raged on, causing concern for the safety of the crew and the potential environmental impact. However, late on Saturday, the US Coast Guard announced that the fire had finally been extinguished. The ship was then directed to anchor near Dutch Harbor, where technicians from the Salvage and Marine Firefighting team remained onboard to ensure that the fire did not reignite.

Captain Chris Culpepper, in a press release, expressed relief that the ship was now in a protected anchorage, minimizing the risk of a reflash of the fire. He also stated that an investigation into the cause of the fire would be launched. The Coast Guard further emphasized that the safety of the crew and the prevention of any environmental damage were of paramount importance.

The response efforts were successful in mitigating the risks associated with the fire. The ship arrived at Dutch Harbor on Friday and was kept at a safe distance of two miles from shore to prevent any toxic gases from affecting the community and environment. Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno, of the Coast Guard, confirmed that there have been no oil leaks associated with the incident.

As the investigation into the cause of the fire begins, the crew and the salvage team remain onboard the ship to ensure that no further fires break out. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries and the importance of prompt and effective response measures in mitigating their risks.