Two-day blaze closes harbour shipping lane

THE Honduran-registered passenger ship, Zenith, which has been ablaze since arriving in the territory on Wednesday, yesterday forced the closure of one of the main shipping lanes in the already-crowded harbour. Heavy plumes of smoke and steam from the Zenith, which was listing and half-submerged, shrouded the harbour in gloom.

Marine Police cordoned off the area for safety as firemen continued battling the blaze on the vessel anchored off Kau Yi Chau. Two firemen and the ship's engineer, Yau Tai-yuen, 65, were taken to hospital after feeling sick from fumes.

The 5,000-tonne three-deck passenger ship, with 31 crew members on board, arrived from Shanghai for repairs on Wednesday and the fire broke out at 9.20 that evening.