Small Fire on Tacoma’s TOTE LNG-Converted “Midnight Sun”

September 24, 2022

On Thursday night, a small fire started on the TOTE Maritime ship Midnight Sun, which was berthed at the Port of Tacoma. However, the crew of the ship promptly put out the fire before the fire department could reach.

One of the two Orca-class ships that TOTE intends to convert to LNG fuel is the 2003-built M/V Midnight Sun. Midnight Sun will undergo LNG commissioning this month with the U.S. Coast Guard, according to a trade notice update published in August on Tote Maritime’s website. “The final phase in transferring the vessel to operate on LNG” is the LNG commissioning.

In the image below, you can see the green LNG fuel tank, which is one of two installed on the vessel. It’s important to note that the image below is misleading because it’s simple to mistake the lights for flames.

TOTE’s Midnight Sun on #fire at the port of #Tacoma tonight.
Several Tacoma Fire Engines responded.
TOTE is supposed to load volatile, dangerous, 600 TIMES condensed #methane for fuel soon.
Good luck everyone??
Photo courtesy @n8vdailynetwork pic.twitter.com/lCsmX9RRvl

— Redefine Tacoma ??? Protect-Conserve-Restore (@Redefine_Tacoma) September 23, 2022

According to a Port of Tacoma representative, the fire broke out in front of the house on Thursday night around 7:30 p.m. and was put out before the fire department could arrive. They departed shortly after.

The fire, according to a TOTE representative, was “minor” and included vendor equipment on the front deck. Personnel casualties or damage to the ship were not recorded. The Tacoma Fire Department was informed, they arrived, but they soon left. No cargo is carried aboard either.

Midnight Sun typically operates between Tacoma, WA and Anchorage, AK.

The statement from TOTE Maritime is as below:

“On Thursday evening a small fire began on the front deck of the carrier ship Midnight Sun at the Port of Tacoma and was quickly extinguished by the crew after it was detected. No personal injuries or damage to the ship occurred. The Tacoma Fire Department arrived on the scene, assessed the situation and, departed.”

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