EC5 Service - MV “Yantian Express” (voyage 108E) – Update 8

Further to our previous CustomerInfo of February 5, 2019 regarding the container fire on board, please be advised that the YANTIAN EXPRESS is currently alongside a berth in Freeport Bahamas. We remain in the process of diligently addressing all of the safety, logistical, operational, and other aspects arising from this casualty, and are pleased to report that significant headway has been made in that regard.

Preparations have been underway with the local authorities, salvers and other interested parties to arrange for the discharge of all containers in the forward most portion of the vessel, in which the fire occurred. In that regard, please note that Richards Hogg Lindley (RHL) as General Average and Salvage Adjusters have provided the following update on their website:

5 February 2019

Based on his initial attendance, the GA Surveyor has identified 198 containers that were most likely a total loss due to the fire. He has also identified an additional 460 containers that were stored in the affected area that require inspection.

The two lists can be downloaded from the links below. Present indications are that the balance of cargo not shown in these schedules will not be damaged.

Door end inspections of the 460 containers will take place in Freeport, but we do not know at this stage when discharge operations or surveys will begin. We suggest that surveyors representing any of these 460 containers get in touch with the GA Surveyor, Mr Gianluca Rolff of TMC. His email address is [email protected]

A list of all likely total loss and possibly damaged containers may also be found on the RHL website:

[https://rhlclientarea.ctplc.com/ Password: YE119GA]

Please note that if your container does not appear on the RHL lists referenced above, then it is strongly likely that it was not impacted by the fire and therefore any such container will not be inspected in Freeport.

The cargo in the 198 containers that has been determined by RHL to most likely be a total loss will not be inspected and sent for destruction once off loaded from the vessel. However, if your container does appear on the list of the 460 containers for which a door end inspection is required, please coordinate with Mr Gianluca Rolff of RHL (see email address above).

We are in the process of formulating protocols for inspection as to the 460 containers designated by RHL, which will be distributed shortly.

Finally, for planning purposes it is unlikely that discharge of the containers referenced above will commence before the second half of this week and we will keep you advised of scheduling through further CustomerInfo letters in due course.

Moreover, the disposition of the sound cargo remains under review and we will revert in that regard as well.

For all other information, we invite you to call our dedicated hotline directly at the following telephone number:

+ 1 833-445-6397

Disclaimer
As per current status, vessel arrived at Freeport, Bahamas (port of refuge) on February 4, 2019. We will obviously have more detailed/precise information once the extent of damages onboard the vessel has been fully assessed and will provide updates in due course. For the avoidance of doubt, the above statements and comments are: (I) non-conclusive, subject to change and being provided for informational purposes only, and (II) given without prejudice to or waiver of any rights, remedies, defenses, and limitations contained in the relevant underlying contracts of carriage as evidenced by Hapag-Lloyd AG’s standard Bill of Lading and/or Sea Waybill and the Hapag-Lloyd Tariff applicable thereto and/or any other applicable agreement governing the carriage of the subject cargo, or any cargo carried on board the vessel at the time of the incident, as the case may be, all of which said terms and conditions continue to remain in full force and effect, without any modification or waiver.