Straddle carrier caught fire at Prince Charles Container Port in Southampton's Western Docks

Southampton docks Southampton docks

A WORKER had to rush for safety after the giant vehicle he was operating at Southampton docks caught fire today.

The blaze broke out in the engine of the straddle carrier 40 feet off the ground at around 5.25am.

The equipment was being used to carry goods around the Prince Charles Container Port in the Western Docks, which is currently hosting the world's biggest ship, the CMA CGM Marco Polo.

The operator was alerted by alarms going off in his cab, and when he investigated he discovered a fire in the engine.

Fire crews from Redbridge and St Mary's were called to the facility at Dock Gate 20, where the team of 10 firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to tackle the blaze, which it is believed was caused by mechanical failure.

The straddle carrier was not loaded at the time, and no containers were damaged. 

It is believed the worker was unharmed, and operations at the port continued unaffected.

Comments(13)

Just another reader says...
8:24am Mon 10 Dec 12

RIP straddle 40!

nigelface says...
9:30am Mon 10 Dec 12

So many fond memories of straddle 40 dragging my legs along the stack cause the wheels were buckled.

bazzeroz says...
9:45am Mon 10 Dec 12

I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.

Just another reader says...
10:35am Mon 10 Dec 12

bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.

georgetheseventh says...
11:10am Mon 10 Dec 12

Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...

Just another reader says...
11:56am Mon 10 Dec 12

georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Where does your info come from then?

Of the Ilk says...
12:03pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Just another reader wrote:
georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Where does your info come from then?
Don't worry - no matter how knowledgeable you are, there is always someone on here who knows better than you!

Big Mac says...
12:45pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Southy!

bazzeroz says...
2:34pm Mon 10 Dec 12

georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Thank you for the back up as opposed to other bloke who is getting my back up!

southy says...
2:41pm Mon 10 Dec 12

bazzeroz wrote:
georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Thank you for the back up as opposed to other bloke who is getting my back up!
Did they not replace them all a few years ago, or was they bought a few new ones to replace the older ones.

southy says...
3:03pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Echo correction is needed
"which is currently hosting the world's biggest ship, the CMA CGM Marco Polo".
Its the widest Container ship, it carrys the most containers, Its not the worlds biggest ship, nor is it the worlds longest container ship.

Just another reader says...
8:02pm Mon 10 Dec 12

bazzeroz wrote:
georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Thank you for the back up as opposed to other bloke who is getting my back up!
Is that me then, the one that's stating facts?

To answer the other question about replacing the straddles, yes they do and have done for the 18 years I've worked there. Used to have valmets, then they bought lots of noell carriers, now gone back to valmets. As we are having new cranes when the 201-202 berth is completed we will also add to the fleet and hopefully with more of the same. (It was a noell that caught fire).

Isn't it annoying when people actually have facts rather than just spouting their little mouths off!! ;0)

southy says...
9:07pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
georgetheseventh wrote:
Just another reader wrote:
bazzeroz wrote:
I've heard many times about the safety issues with these straddle carriers,ie: lack of maintenance!! Shareholders above safety.
From who? As a driver of them myself I've got to say they're well maintained. They have regular hours worked based service schedules along with fault correction as it arises.

As for shareholders first, they've just invested £150 million on the back of a few years of zero returns on their holdings, investing in our future.
They are running on a shoe string...I would rather straddle Basil Brush than go back to driving one of those...
Thank you for the back up as opposed to other bloke who is getting my back up!
Is that me then, the one that's stating facts?

To answer the other question about replacing the straddles, yes they do and have done for the 18 years I've worked there. Used to have valmets, then they bought lots of noell carriers, now gone back to valmets. As we are having new cranes when the 201-202 berth is completed we will also add to the fleet and hopefully with more of the same. (It was a noell that caught fire).

Isn't it annoying when people actually have facts rather than just spouting their little mouths off!! ;0)
Yes I did remember reading about it just before the replacement was done, I think the number 6 was talk about

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