A serious fire broke out aboard a bulk carrier moored at Albert Dock, Hull, on England’s east coast on Friday (27 June). The blaze triggered a significant emergency response and impacted the city’s port and surrounding areas. The vessel, the MV Altay, carrying a cargo of 3,500 tonnes of scrap metal, was engulfed in thick smoke after the blaze took hold in a cargo hold late in the morning.
The fire aboard the 5200-tonne MV Altay, a Turkish-owned and Marshall Islands registered bulk carrier, had Humberside Fire and Rescue Service crews working through the night to suppress and finally extinguish the fire by 0500 on Saturday morning. The incident prompted city centre road closures, the temporary evacuation of court buildings, and warnings to residents and businesses to stay indoors due to smoke and fumes drifting from the docks.
Deep-seated blaze in cargo hold
Described as a “deep-seated” fire by Humberside Fire and Rescue incident commander Dominic Purchon, the blaze proved difficult to access and required a prolonged firefighting strategy. “The fire is contained in the vessel so our tactic involves removing the cargo and extinguishing it on the dockside. At the same time we’re spraying water into the hold,” he said on the scene. Firefighters trained in marine response were deployed along with five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform.
The cargo of scrap metal presented complex challenges. Crews continued damping down efforts for hours to prevent reignition, with steam still visible on Saturday morning. A fire service spokesperson said: “Well done to our firefighters who worked through the night, continuously dampening down the cargo hold. Thank you also to our Control Room staff and the port authorities for their support.”
Hull docks: critical city centre infrastructure
Albert Dock, where the incident occurred, is operated by Associated British Ports (ABP) and forms part of the wider Port of Hull, which in turn is pivotal to the UK Government-designated Humber Freeport. It is a key facility located in the heart of the city, handling dry bulk, forest products, and general cargoes. Its central location, however, made the incident especially disruptive, as smoke and access restrictions impacted city life far beyond the port perimeter.
Wind-blown smoke drifted into the city centre, affecting residential areas and businesses. Fire service updates warned the public to keep windows shut, while Humberside Police closed roads around the dock. The Kingston Retail Park was also affected. An arts festival site nearby was evacuated on safety grounds.
Cause under investigation and previous incidents
With the fire now under control, investigators are expected to begin work to determine the cause. Humberside Fire and Rescue confirmed on Saturday morning that the fire was out, but crews would remain on site to monitor hot spots. The bulk carrier Altay remains alongside and afloat.
As of Monday, port operations in Hull have begun to return to normal, though the shipping community will await further details on the outcome of the investigation. Hull was recently at the locus of another major incident. In March, the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, carrying jet fuel, was hit by the container ship Solong in the Humber Estuary, resulting in a fatality. Eight years ago, an acid tank leaked at King George Dock, forming a vapour cloud from which several people fell ill and forcing an exclusion zone to be imposed, similar to Friday’s event.