Cargo Ship Catches Fire! Emergency Rescue Underway

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a fire broke out aboard a cargo ship moored on the River Thames at Gravesend, Kent, UK.

The vessel, identified as SIDER OLYMPIA, is a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier nearly 180 meters in length.

The fire was discovered shortly after midnight, with emergency services receiving the first alert at around 3:00 AM BST.

By the time rescuers arrived, the ship was already engulfed in flames. Witnesses described seeing a bright orange glow coming from one of the ship's cargo holds.

Ten fire engines from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were dispatched to the scene on Crete Hall Road, along with specialist units including an aerial ladder platform, technical rescue teams, water safety teams, and a high-volume water carrier. A large pump and elevated platform were also brought in, and volunteer support groups worked alongside emergency personnel to provide welfare assistance.

Drones and marine firefighters were mobilized to assist with the operation.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) also joined the effort, deploying the fireboat Errington from Lambeth River Station to fight the blaze from the water. Additional LFB resources were placed on standby around London while their crews supported operations in Kent.

According to a senior officer from the LFB, they were called in at approximately 3:12 AM to assist.

Crews from both agencies worked closely under what KFRS described as a “complex tactical plan” to bring the fire under control. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus boarded the ship to cool the upper decks and contain extreme internal heat using hose lines.

Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and all crew members were safe. However, it remains unclear what type of cargo was onboard and whether hazardous materials were involved.

The ship’s size and the nature of the blaze made firefighting efforts particularly challenging, with operations expected to continue for several hours.

Kent Police were also on site to assist with crowd control and to ensure public safety.

The Port of London Authority is closely monitoring the situation. The public has been urged to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work safely.

A KFRS spokesperson described the incident as highly complex and confirmed that teams were working in coordination with partner agencies including the Coastguard and London Fire Brigade to fully contain the blaze.

Once the situation is fully stabilized, fire and maritime officials will launch a joint investigation into the cause of the fire.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have captured video footage or has relevant information about the incident to come forward, as it may assist the ongoing investigation.