A fire that broke out at Lürssen's Rendsburg shipyard on July 2, 2024, has now been extinguished, and clean-up operations are underway. The blaze, which began around 9:20 a.m. local time, raged for approximately 20 hours before being brought under control in the early hours of the morning.
According to the fire department, the fire originated in a shipbuilding hall and quickly spread to other areas of the yard. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions and thick columns of dark smoke emanating from the site. Local news sources have mentioned that the hall's roof and façade partially collapsed, and a superyacht under construction, reportedly named Honolulu, sustained damage. The 75-meter vessel, valued at $250 million, is being built for a Saudi Arabian billionaire.
Approximately 100 employees were present at the yard when the fire broke out. They were promptly evacuated, and one person sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical treatment. During the height of the fire, Lürssen issued a statement: "All necessary evacuation measures were initiated immediately. One person was slightly injured and is receiving emergency medical treatment. The fire brigade and police are on site. We are currently unable to say anything about the cause of the fire."
In total, 400 emergency service personnel and two rescue helicopters were deployed to combat the blaze.
This morning, Lürssen provided an updated statement: "The fire that occurred on Tuesday in a shipbuilding hall at the Lürssen-Kröger shipyard has been extinguished since the early hours of the morning. We will now begin the clean-up work step by step in coordination with the responsible authorities. Shipyard operations have been suspended for today and will be gradually restarted in designated areas of the shipyard site from tomorrow, depending on the circumstances. Employees will be kept informed of the latest developments."
Authorities plan to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire once the temperature in the affected area has sufficiently decreased.
Lürssen is a German shipyard with headquarters in Bremen-Vegesack and shipbuilding facilities in Lemwerder, Berne and Bremen-Aumund. Founded in 1875, Lürssen is one of the world's leading builders of custom luxury superyachts and has launched many of the largest yachts in the global fleet.
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