12 December 2025 – A serious fire broke out today on the Panama-flagged general cargo/ro-ro vessel Cenk T while the moment the ship was berthing in Odesa, Ukraine. The incident began with a powerful explosion followed by an intense and rapidly spreading fire in the cargo holds and vehicle deck. Thick black smoke is still visible over the port area.

For seafarers and maritime training centres, this event is a real-life reminder of why STCW Regulation VI/3 – Advanced Fire Fighting remains one of the most critical mandatory competences.

Key AFF takeaways from today’s incident:

🔥 Rapid fire development after initial explosion – highlights the need for immediate and decisive command decisions in the first minutes (AFF Code A-VI/3, Table A-VI/3). 🔥 Ro-ro and containerised dangerous goods – mixed cargo (reported generators, vehicles, possible Class 1–9 DG) creates unpredictable fire behaviour and toxic smoke. 🔥 Fixed CO₂ or water-mist systems may become inoperable after structural damage – crews must be ready to switch to boundary cooling and alternative extinguishing methods. 🔥 Need for effective breathing apparatus procedures and search-and-rescue in zero-visibility, high-heat environments. 🔥 Importance of realistic live-fire training: today’s fire temperatures and smoke density are exactly what AFF refresher courses simulate.

We are continuously update our digital AFF knowledge modules and practical scenario library with real incidents like this one, so seafarers can test decision-making before they face it at sea.

Stay safe, stay trained, stay ready.