North Sea ship evacuated off Germany amid blast fears

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Another developing vessel casualty story that is likely to prompt lots of discussions from insurers and safety experts about cargo declarations, stowage plans and shippers’ responsibilities. The cargo in a coastal container ship en route from the UK to Germany caught fire on Monday night resulting in the vessel having to be abandoned, while residents in northern Germany have been warned to stay indoors and windows kept shut. The crew of the Purple Beach have been evacuated and some 36 people – crew and emergency service personnel have received hospital treatment for inhaling toxic gas.