A vessel fire recently broke out at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware, United States. A fire started in the engine room of the refrigerated container vessel Dole Colombia while it was berthed at Berth 5. The vessel has long carried bananas and other perishable cargo and is regarded within the industry as a typical banana carrier. Firefighters responded to the scene, and the crew brought the fire under control after activating the vessel’s fixed firefighting system. All crew members were safe, but one firefighter was taken to hospital for evaluation after inhaling a significant amount of smoke.

Key Highlights

• Fire breaks out at the Port of Wilmington: Dole Colombia suffered an engine room fire while berthed at the port.

• Fire reported near a generator: Preliminary information from the vessel indicated that the fire originated near a generator in the engine room.

• Crew brings fire under control: The crew sealed the engine room and activated the vessel’s fixed firefighting system.

• One firefighter taken to hospital: The firefighter was sent for medical evaluation after inhaling heavy smoke and nearly losing consciousness.

• Similar previous incident aboard the same vessel: Dole Colombia also suffered an engine room fire at the Port of Wilmington in 2021.

Crew Activates Fixed Firefighting System to Contain Engine Room Fire

According to media reports, the Wilmington Fire Department received a call that morning reporting an engine room fire aboard Dole Colombia while the vessel was berthed at Berth 5. Heavy smoke was seen coming from the vessel’s stacks. The master subsequently confirmed that the fire was inside the engine room, with the source initially believed to be near a generator.

The fire department initiated a second-alarm response, deploying local units and requesting mutual aid from surrounding fire departments. Before firefighters arrived, the crew had already sealed the engine room in accordance with emergency procedures and activated the vessel’s fixed firefighting system. After reaching the scene, firefighters continued monitoring boundary temperatures and worked to prevent the fire from spreading. The fire was eventually brought under control, and all crew members were safe. One firefighter was taken to hospital for evaluation after inhaling heavy smoke and nearly losing consciousness.

Dole Colombia Suffers Second Engine Room Fire at Wilmington

Publicly available information shows that Dole Colombia was built in 1999. It is a refrigerated container vessel primarily serving the fruit trade, with a reported capacity of approximately 850 TEU, and has long carried bananas and other perishable cargo. Because such vessels transport cargo with strict temperature-control requirements, failures involving propulsion or power supply systems may also affect cold-chain operations.

This was not the first engine room fire involving Dole Colombia at the Port of Wilmington. In June 2021, the vessel also suffered an engine room fire while departing the port’s terminal. The fire originated in the main engine area, and the crew brought it under control by activating the fixed firefighting system. With tug assistance, the vessel returned to its berth. The incident did not cause significant damage to the vessel.

Generator-Related Fires Raise Equipment Safety Concerns

A generator is the initial focus of the investigation into the latest fire. Engine room fires caused by equipment failures are not uncommon. As generators are critical to onboard power supply, a serious failure may affect not only engine room safety but also vessel operations and refrigerated equipment.

In November 2025, another refrigerated vessel serving the banana trade, Chiquita Voyager, also suffered an engine room fire at the Port of Wilmington. That incident similarly involved a generator fire and injured four crew members, one of whom was reported to be in critical condition. These similar incidents have renewed industry attention on vessel maintenance, engine room firefighting systems, and the operational safety of aging refrigerated vessels.

Power Disruptions Could Put Refrigerated Cargo at Risk

Although the latest incident caused no crew casualties and did not result in the closure of the Port of Wilmington, an engine room fire aboard a refrigerated container vessel remains a concern for freight forwarders worldwide. If the propulsion or power supply system is affected for an extended period, the power supply to reefer containers and their temperature-control systems may also be at risk.

For temperature-controlled cargo such as bananas, fresh fruit, and frozen food, the consequences of a vessel incident may extend beyond schedule changes to cargo quality, cold-chain stability, and subsequent claims. Freight forwarders handling reefer cargo through the U.S. East Coast should closely monitor risks affecting cold-chain shipments through Wilmington. In addition to tracking vessel schedules and port developments, they should promptly confirm the vessel’s subsequent operating arrangements and the temperature-control status of the cargo. Contingency plans should also be prepared in advance to reduce the risk of cargo spoilage, delays, and claims.

Sources

Publicly available maritime, port, and vessel information

Disclaimer

This article has been compiled from publicly available information and is intended solely for reference within the international logistics industry. For specific sailing schedules, port arrangements, and cargo handling plans, please refer to the latest notices issued by carriers and port operators.