An explosion in the engine room of the Liberian-flagged feeder containership MSC Giada III triggered a subsequent fire as the vessel was approaching St. Petersburg in the Gulf of Finland, disabling the ship and prompting an emergency rescue and tow to port.
The 2,732 TEU ship, operated by MSC and inbound from Antwerp, Belgium, experienced the blast on 4 February while transiting Neva Bay toward St. Petersburg. The explosion’s heat and blast effects ignited a fire that spread from the engine room upward into the deck superstructure.
Emergency services were dispatched to the vessel’s position in Neva Bay. Fire teams worked for several hours to extinguish flames and prevent further escalation, and officials reported no fuel leakage or hull breach during operations.
All 22 crewmembers were reported safe following the incident, with no injuries confirmed. Initial media accounts indicate the master is a Russian national and much of the remainder of the crew are from Myanmar, though official statements from MSC or Russian authorities remain limited.
Following firefighting and damage control efforts, MSC Giada III was towed under escort into the Port of St. Petersburg for a detailed technical inspection and assessment of the engine room, superstructure and systems to determine the root cause of the explosion and plan repairs.
