Explosion on MSC box ship near St Petersburg

While no one is suggesting foul play … an explosion has rocked MSC-operated box ship MSC Giada III on its approach to St Petersburg. Splash reports that the explosion occurred in the 2,732 teu vessel’s engine, triggering a fire that spread to the deck superstructure. It seems rapid dispatch of emergency crews brought the fire under control “within a few hours”, and prevented any serious damage to the hull. As to the cause, TBC, but Russia-bound ships are facing heightened security concerns amid the war on Ukraine. This is particularly true in the Gulf of Finland, following Estonia’s detention of Bahamas-flagged box ship Baltic Spirit en route to Russia’s second city.