Harlingen, Netherlands — A fire broke out early on 12 January 2026 aboard the Dutch-flagged general cargo ship Marry-S while the vessel was berthed for scheduled maintenance at Damen Shiprepair Harlingen, local maritime sources reported.

The blaze originated in the ship’s cargo hold shortly before dawn as the vessel, built in 1997 and owned by Sierra Maritiem, was receiving repair work at the Lange Lijnbaan facility. Responding firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within a short period, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the ship or the repair shed.

Smoke was visible around the shipyard during the incident, and emergency crews faced challenging conditions due to icy roads in the area, which initially hampered access to the scene.

Authorities confirmed there were no reported injuries among the vessel’s crew or yard personnel. Firefighting teams ventilated both the cargo hold and the docked vessel once the flames were extinguished, and operations at the shipyard have since resumed.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and preliminary reports have not yet identified a specific source of ignition. Shipyard officials and maritime investigators are expected to review maintenance activities and safety procedures as part of the inquiry.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about fire risks aboard vessels during repair and maintenance periods, when standard operational safeguards may be disrupted by work-site activity. Maritime safety experts stress the importance of rigorous monitoring and rapid emergency response to limit damage and protect personnel.