M/V Skyroyal; Near Honolulu, HI

Near Honolulu, HI | 2012-May-03

Initial Notification: USCG D14 notified the NOAA SSC that the morning of May 3, the M/V SKYROYAL contacted the Coast Guard regarding increasing temperatures in two of its cargo holds. The vessel was carrying bulk Direct Reduced Iron, used in steel manufacturing. This product can react exothermically, generating heat and potentially igniting if it gets hot enough. The vessel was 1100 nm from Honolulu en route to China from Panama and was not intending to come to Hawaii, but notified the USCG in case it needed to make an emergency call. NOAA ERD was asked for information about Direct Reduced Iron. Based on subsequent information and technical analysis provided to the USCG from the shipper, the situation stabilized. The temperatures, which had been approximately 15 degrees centigrade above normal at the time of initial notification, ceased increasing and began decreasing slowly. The shipper reported that it considered this temperature fluctuation normal behavior for this cargo. The vessel did not come into Hawaii.