Grande Brasile: The Fire That Came Back

What Happened

On 18 February 2025, en route from Antwerp to Le Havre with containers, vehicles, and heavy machinery, Grande Brasile's fire detection system alerted the crew to smoke on cargo deck 8. The master closed ventilation dampers, sounded the general alarm, and mustered the crew. Fire teams found dense black smoke, burning vehicles, and explosions within the cargo space and were withdrawn. The master ordered the fixed CO2 system released.

Smoke from the ventilation ducts diminished. The fire was believed extinguished. The crew began boundary cooling.

Several Hours Later

At 1716 — roughly six and a half hours after the CO2 release — a fire alarm activated for deck 7. The fire had re-ignited, and this time it spread rapidly: by 1732 it had reached deck 12. Despite sustained boundary cooling, heat and smoke intensified faster than the crew could contain them. By evening, the fire had reached the bosun's store and galley, the vessel developed a starboard list, and smoke and radiant heat began penetrating the accommodation block itself. When the generators supplying the fire pumps ultimately failed, the crew abandoned ship. All 26 on board were recovered safely by an RNLI lifeboat and landed at Ramsgate.