Cargo ship moved from Blount Island after June fire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A cargo ship that was the scene of a fire in June was moved Sunday from Blount Island.

A viewer sent News4Jax footage of the cargo ship being moved on Sunday morning.

U.S. Coast Guard Station Mayport escorted the vessel as it made its way out to the ocean. The vessel was being dead towed, which involves moving a ship that has lost most — if not all — of its propulsion.

It was not immediately clear where the ship’s eventual destination will be.

Eight firefighters were injured June 4 while they battling the fire aboard the cargo ship at Blount Island.

The eight members of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department were among dozens trying to find the fire inside the Norwegian ship loaded with used vehicles when an explosion occurred. The firefighters escaped the ship with their lives, but with burns to their heads and hands.

A ninth firefighter was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

According to the Coast Guard, because of the tireless efforts to spray water on the ship’s exterior, the vessel’s hull remained intact — keeping it from breaking up and sinking, which was a good thing for safety and potential environmental impacts.

The Coast Guard said at the time that the cars were melting inside. The hull itself never rose above 350 degrees.