ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A large cargo ship, named Genius Star XI, is currently being kept 2 miles offshore of an Alaskan port as a precautionary measure while efforts are made to extinguish a fire raging in its hold, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel, which was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries, was en route from Vietnam to San Diego when the fire broke out on Christmas Day.

Thankfully, there were no injuries reported among the 19 crew members onboard the ship. In response to the fire, the crew released carbon dioxide into cargo hold No. 1 and sealed it off to minimize the risk of an explosion. The Coast Guard was alerted to the situation by the ship's personnel early on Thursday morning.

Following the diversion of the 410-foot cargo ship to Dutch Harbor, located in Unalaska, an Aleutian Islands community approximately 800 miles southwest of Anchorage, an order was issued to prevent the Genius Star XI from approaching the shore. The aim of this order is to mitigate the potential risks associated with burning lithium-ion batteries and the toxic gases produced by the fire.

The safety of the community, environment, fisheries, and commerce remains the primary concern of Unalaska city. Marjie Veeder, the acting city manager, emphasized the city's commitment to protecting the health and safety of all community members. The Unalaska emergency operations center is actively monitoring the situation on behalf of the community.

In addition to restricting the ship from approaching closer than 2 miles to the shore, the Coast Guard has established a one-mile safety zone around the vessel. This precautionary measure aims to ensure the safety of Unalaska residents and the surrounding communities.

A team of marine firefighting experts recently conducted an assessment of the ship and found no signs of structural deformation or blistering outside of the cargo hold. However, the team remains onboard the vessel to continuously evaluate the situation.

Wisdom Marine Group, the ship's owner based in Taipei, Taiwan, has hired an expert who is diligently working to create contingency plans, arrange for a firefighting team, and ensure the necessary equipment is in place.

The cause of the fire aboard the Genius Star XI is currently under investigation by the Coast Guard. The vessel, under the flag of Panama, departed Vietnam on December 10 and was heading towards Dutch Harbor, according to the Marine Traffic website. With a carrying capacity of over 13,000 tons, this incident underscores the potential dangers associated with vessel fires.

As efforts to extinguish the flames and determine the cause of the fire continue, the situation remains closely monitored by local authorities and the Coast Guard, with a focus on protecting the well-being of the community and the environment.