Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) released the final report on the investigation of the general cargo ship “HUI FENG” that caught fire off the coast of Kaohsiung Port.

At about 0745 hours on June 12, 2024, a Taiwan-flagged general cargo ship “HUI FENG”, official number 013083, with a gross tonnage 499, caught fire about 17.1 nautical miles southwest of the Port of Kaohsiung. The vessel’s wheelhouse, accommodation space, lifeboat deck, and engine room were severely fire-damaged. Three crew members sustained injuries. No environmental pollution resulted from the occurrence.

Following Taiwan's Transportation Occurrence Investigation Act and the Casualty Investigation Code of the International Maritime Organization, the TTSB is an independent transportation occurrence investigation agency responsible for conducting this investigation. The investigation team also included members from the Maritime and Port Bureau, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Harbor Fire Corps, the National Fire Agency, the Ministry of the Interior, and E-HUI Freight Co., Ltd.

The investigation identified 4 findings based on a comprehensive review of factual data and analysis. The final report was reviewed and approved at the 75th TTSB Board Meeting held on May 9, 2025.

The findings related to probable causes:

1. The fire on the HUI FENG lasted for an extended period, severely damaging the vessel’s wheelhouse, accommodation spaces, and other areas. Additionally, no surveillance footage was available, resulting in a lack of clear evidence to determine the exact origin and cause of the fire. After examining and analyzing the available evidence, the wheelhouse, engine room, galley, and mess room were ruled out as potential locations for the fire. The fire is suspected to have originated in a crew cabin on the accommodation deck. An electrical cause of the fire could not be ruled out.

The findings related to risk:

1. Fire detection systems were not installed in the accommodation of HUI FENG. Consequently, the crew was unable to detect the fire in its early stages, losing the opportunity for timely extinguishment..

The other findings:

1. According to the Regulations for Ship Equipment, it was not required to be equipped with a fire detection system on HUI FENG.
2. Three crew members sustained injuries. They were conscious and able to move on their own during the rescue. After receiving hospital treatment for several days, they returned home to recover and have since fully recovered.

Transportation Safety Recommendations

During the investigation, HUI FENG underwent an additional inspection by the Maritime and Port Bureau on March 14, 2025, in accordance with the Regulations for Vessel Inspections.
E-HUI Freight Co., Ltd. has installed fire detectors in the engine room, galley, and accommodation areas of HUI FENG. CCTV systems have also been installed in the engine room and cargo hold, and can be monitored from the bridge. Therefore, no safety recommendations are issued in light of these proactive safety measures.

The complete final report is available in Chinese only and may be downloaded from the TTSB website: https://www.ttsb.gov.tw

Ya-Ting Chang, Director

Secretariat Office

Tel: +886-2-7727-6210

E-mail: yating@ttsb.gov.tw

Willis Chen, Investigator-In-Charge

Marine Occurrence Investigation Division

Tel: +886-2-7727-6246
E-mail: willis@ttsb.gov.tw