UK-Flagged Bulk Carrier Hit By Explosion Off North Carolina Coast, Crew Safe

An explosion occurred aboard the UK-flagged bulk carrier Anglo Marie Louise on November 27 while it was about 150 nautical miles off the coast of North Carolina.

The explosion happened in the ship’s cargo holds, causing damage to the No.1 and No. 2 cargo hatches.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported to the crew, and the vessel remained seaworthy despite the damage. After the blast, the Anglo Marie Louise continued on its course and anchored off Virginia Beach, near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.

The ship had departed Baltimore, Maryland, on November 23 and was on its way to its next port when the explosion took place. Despite the incident, the vessel was able to return to port under its own power.

This wasn’t the first time the Anglo Marie Louise had faced trouble. Back in March 2024, the ship experienced a power failure while navigating the Mississippi River near New Orleans.

This caused the vessel to veer out of control, but two tugboats managed to steer it away from a potential collision with a docked vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating that incident, which also involved a near-miss the day before.

The Anglo Marie Louise, built in 2011, is owned by Anglo International Shipping in the UK and managed by Anglo-Eastern in Germany. It is insured through the NorthStandard Protection and Indemnity Club.

The vessel has had no issues during inspections since 2020, and the most recent inspection found no problems.

While the explosion caused some damage, there are no immediate concerns about the ship’s ability to operate. However, there could be some recovery issues, and the situation is still being assessed.

The Anglo Marie Louise remains anchored in Virginia, with its crew safe and the ship able to continue its journey.

Reference: Safety4Sea