Ship on fire at Hull’s Albert Dock as roads and shops closed

Four fire engines and an aerial platform are being used to tackle the fire on a vessel at Albert Dock in Hull

Crews from Humberside Fire and Rescue are tackling a blaze on a ship docked in Hull.

The service said it was called to Albert Dock at 10:22 BST and four fire engines, an aerial platform, Hull Coastguard Rescue Team and an ambulance are in attendance.

The fire started in the cargo hold of the vessel, which was carrying scrap metal, and people were on board but have all been accounted for, a spokesperson for the fire service added.

Local residents and businesses have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed. A plume of smoke is visible across the city centre and shops and roads have been closed.

Dale Baxter/BBC An aerial view of a blue and red vessel with grey smoke billowing out from the deck. A number of industrial buildings are visible in the background. — Crews from Humberside Fire and Rescue, HM Coastguard and Humberside Police are in attendance

Associated British Ports, which runs Albert Dock, said: “We are currently aware of a fire on a vessel in the location of a tenanted area, and we are assisting the fire service with the response.”

Dale Baxter, a BBC reporter at the scene, identified the vessel as the Altay – a bulk carrier which has been docked in the city since 23 June.

He said: “It is quite remarkable. There is an enormous plume of smoke pouring from the ship.

“It looks like it is coming from near the bridge and the wind direction is pushing it towards the city centre.

“The smell is awful.”

According to Vessel Finder, a website that tracks the status of ships, Altay was built in 2006 and flies under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

Humberside Fire and Rescue said the fire started in the cargo hold of the vessel

Dale Baxter/BBC A blue and red ship in a dock which has lots of grey smoke billowing out from a fire. The Hull skyline is visible in the distance. — Humberside Fire and Rescue said the fire started in the cargo hold of the vessel

Humberside Police has confirmed English Street, Wellington Street, Humber Dock, Kingston Retail Park, Marina and Jackson Street have all been closed as a result of the incident.

Tina Riches, managing director of HVM Van Hire, said her business had been closed after she heard “sirens going off and a warning alarm at the dock” earlier.

“We’ve had to contact our customers that they won’t be able to get here and the police say we might have to be evacuated,” she said.

BBC reporter Charlie O’Loughlin lives a few streets away from the marina and described “really thick smoke” more than five hours after the incident started.

She added: “The smell of burning rubber is super strong inside my house.”