The firefighting response to a blaze aboard the One Henry Hudson entered its fourth day on Tuesday, as the Unified Command continues to battle the fire that erupted on Friday evening. The fire, which began while the ship was docked at Berth 218 in the Port of Los Angeles, has required a coordinated effort from various agencies.

Fortunately, the ship’s 23 crew members were safely evacuated without any injuries, following the outbreak of the fire around 6:30 p.m. local time. The fire broke out in hard-to-reach sub-deck areas, prompting a response from nearly 200 firefighters from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, supported by the Long Beach Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Los Angeles Port Police, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The incident escalated Friday night when an explosion in the midship section knocked out the vessel’s power supply, including the lights and cranes. Firefighters were forced to withdraw and continue their efforts from a safe distance. Once hazardous materials were identified, the Unified Command decided to move the vessel offshore for safety.

See also: One Henry Hudson Moved Offshore After Fire at Port of Los Angeles

In a large-scale operation, the One Henry Hudson was escorted from the port past the Vincent Thomas Bridge. By the early hours of Saturday, the vessel was safely anchored about a mile from shore near the Angel’s Gate Lighthouse, where it has remained since. Fire suppression and salvage operations continue as the fire is brought under control.

Capt. Stacey Crecy, the Coast Guard incident commander, emphasized that safety remains a top priority: “We are monitoring air quality closely and maintaining safety zones while coordinating efforts with all involved agencies to protect the public.”

According to Los Angeles Port Police Deputy Chief Greg McManus, air quality levels have consistently remained within safe limits. Live monitoring from key locations has provided real-time data, ensuring public safety.

Although the air quality remains stable, a shelter-in-place order was initially issued for residents of San Pedro and Wilmington as a precaution. Still, it was lifted on Saturday once the vessel was safely moved out to open water.

At present, the focus of operations is on cooling and extinguishing hot spots in the containers. A fire lance is being used to douse any affected containers, while contracted tugs are spraying water on the vessel to keep the hull cooled and prevent further damage.

The salvage team is prioritizing efforts in cargo hold number 03, which has been filled with 80% water from earlier firefighting efforts. While the vessel’s stability is being carefully monitored, the situation remains under control, and a formal salvage plan is in the works.

“We’ve worked with local partners to ensure that crews remain safe, that the vessel was moved offshore, and that the operations at the Port of Los Angeles could continue without significant disruption,” said Capt. Jarrod DeWitz, Coast Guard incident commander. “We will keep working together until the vessel is fully stable and poses no further risk to the port or the public.”

The Coast Guard has established a half-mile safety zone around the vessel and is managing nearby traffic while ensuring that airspace restrictions remain in place. Resources for search and rescue are on standby, and the Coast Guard continues to assess the ship’s stability and monitor hazardous materials.

Port operations were briefly impacted, with four of the seven container terminals suspending operations and State Route 47 closing due to smoke and reduced visibility. However, normal port operations have since resumed.

“The effective isolation of this vessel fire demonstrates the strong collaboration between the Port of Los Angeles and all of our local partners,” said Capt. Daniel Cobos, Port of Los Angeles Police Department incident commander. “Our coordinated response ensured that port operations resumed without significant delays.”

The incident has come at a crucial time for the Port of Los Angeles, which is on track to exceed 10 million TEUs for the third time in its history by 2025.

Firefighting operations are set to continue, while salvage teams continue working under the guidance of the Unified Command, which includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Los Angeles Police, and representatives from the container ship operator.