Fire on Cargo Ship Causes Smoky Conditions in Hull

Residents in Hull on the east coast of England are experiencing smoky conditions and a strong smell due to a fire that started on a cargo ship docked at the port’s Albert Dock. Businesses in the city center have reported remaining closed, and police have closed roads while warning motorists to use caution.

Humberside Fire and Rescue dispatched four engines and a ladder platform to the scene of the fire aboard the small dry bulk cargo ship named Altay. Ambulances and the Hull Coastguard Rescue Team are also present at the scene.

“Due to the wind, smoke from the incident is drifting into Hull city center. We’re asking people to keep windows and doors closed and to be mindful of the smoke if you’re out and about and avoid the area near the dock,” the fire service advised in a public notice.

The vessel arrived from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands on Monday, June 23. The 8,814 dwt ship is registered in the Marshall Islands and has been owned by a Turkish company since 2017.

The police confirmed that everyone aboard the vessel has been safely accounted for with no reported injuries. The fire is believed to have started in the cargo hold where the ship was transporting scrap metal.

Altay faced deficiencies during a Port State inspection in Venice, Italy in October 2024, including maintenance of life-saving equipment and lack of training related to bridge operations, resulting in a two-day detention. However, a subsequent inspection in Boulogne, France, yielded a clean report.