Container Fire Erupts on Ship in New Jersey

There was a large response to a container fire on what appeared to be a Hapag-Lloyd ship at Global Terminal in New Jersey on the Jersey City/Bayonne border on Thursday.

A load of coconut charcoal reportedly caught fire and spread to the exterior of a second container on the massive container ship. The container was smoking when local firefighters arrived on the scene around 2:30 p.m. and it was removed from the ship and placed on a pier. A second burning container was also removed from the ship, but flames had not spread to its contents.

The fire was completely put out, and hazmat equipment was brought in while officials were trying to determine what was inside the burning containers.

Authorities believe the fire was accidental, according to local reports.