Fire-damaged ONE Henry Hudson sails for Asian repair yard

Nearly two months after being crippled by a major onboard fire in Los Angeles, the 8,212 teu container ship ONE Henry Hudson has departed the US West Coast and is heading across the Pacific to Asia for repairs.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) informed customers that all cargo discharge operations at Yusen Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles were completed earlier this week. Containers from the vessel have been moved to designated storage areas within the terminal, with cargo release subject to general average contributions from shippers.

The fire broke out while the vessel was alongside at Yusen Terminal and is believed to have originated below deck, possibly from an electrical fault, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze spread across several sublevels, significantly damaging the ship’s internal spaces. A mid-deck explosion during the incident caused a complete loss of onboard power, disabling lighting and crane systems.

Due to the intensity of the fire and concerns over port safety, authorities ordered the vessel to be towed away from the berth and relocated to an offshore anchorage near Angel’s Gate Lighthouse. Firefighting teams continued suppression and cooling operations at sea to limit further damage and reduce risks to port infrastructure.

With the cargo now fully discharged, the ONE Henry Hudson is proceeding at reduced speed to an undisclosed Asian shipyard, where a full assessment and extensive repairs are expected before the vessel can return to service.