‘Smell of burning plastic is very strong’: Panicked residents told to lock themselves indoors as scrap metal vessel erupts in flames
Dramatic footage has captured the moment a massive cargo ship burst into flames at Hull’s Albert Dock this morning, sending enormous plumes of toxic smoke billowing across the city centre.
The Altay cargo vessel, which had been carrying scrap metal, erupted into a raging inferno just after 10.20am today, sparking a major emergency response and forcing thousands of residents to barricade themselves indoors.
Terrified locals reported a choking “smell of burning plastic” spreading through the streets as the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier continued to burn throughout the morning, with firefighters battling desperately to bring the blaze under control.
‘It’s quite remarkable’: Eyewitnesses stunned by scale of inferno
HGV driver Charlie Stembridge captured shocking footage of the inferno, showing thick black smoke pouring from the 2006-built vessel and drifting ominously across Yorkshire’s second-largest city.
BBC reporter Dale Baxter, who rushed to the scene, described the sight as “quite remarkable,” adding: “There is an enormous plume of smoke pouring from the ship.
The veteran journalist observed that smoke appeared to be coming from near the vessel’s bridge, with strong winds pushing the toxic cloud directly towards Hull’s bustling city centre.
Emergency crews race to scene as crew evacuated
Five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were dispatched to the scene, with firefighters working alongside port authorities and emergency service partners to manage the incident.
Hull Coastguard Rescue Team and multiple ambulances also rushed to Albert Dock as the crisis unfolded.
In a stroke of fortune, all crewmembers who had been aboard the vessel were quickly evacuated and accounted for, with Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirming that occupants were checked over by medical staff as a precautionary measure.
City in lockdown: Major roads closed as smoke engulfs streets
The scale of the emergency forced authorities to implement sweeping road closures across the city. Humberside Police issued closures on English Street, Wellington Street, Humber Dock, Kingston Retail Park, The Marina, and Jackson Street in Hull.
Kingston Retail Park was forced to shut entirely, with the Odeon Cinema and Ice Arena also closing their doors as toxic fumes spread through the area.
Bus services were thrown into chaos, with Stagecoach East Midlands confirming its services were diverting via Drypool Bridge onto Great Union Street to avoid the smoke-filled zones.
‘Close all windows NOW’: Urgent health warning issued
As the fire raged on, emergency services issued increasingly urgent warnings to residents and businesses across Hull.
We’re asking people to keep windows and doors closed and to be mindful of the smoke if you’re out and about and avoid the area near the dock,” Humberside Fire and Rescue Service warned.
By midday, the situation had escalated further, with the fire service updating their warning: “Smoke from the ongoing incident is drifting into Hull city centre. Please keep windows and doors closed, and be mindful if you are out and about in the city centre.”
Social media erupts as residents share their terror
Panicked residents took to social media to share their experiences of the unfolding drama.
“I’ve been smelling every plug socket and computer at work wondering if it’s in my building. I hope everyone is okay on the docks,” one worried local posted on the Hull Traffic and Travel Facebook group.
Another resident wrote: “I’ve just had to close all my windows. Wondered what the burning smell was.”
The vessel’s troubled history
According to Vessel Finder, a website which tracks the status of ships, the ship was built in 2006 and is managed by Briese Schiffahrt from Leer, Germany. It is owned by Tiverton Shipping, which is based in the Marshall Islands.
The Altay had arrived at Hull from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands on Monday, June 23, and had been docked at Albert Dock for four days before disaster struck.
Worryingly, Altay was cited for several deficiencies, including maintenance of life saving, readiness of life saving equipment, and lack of training as it related to bridge operations during an October 2024 Port State inspection in Venice, Italy, resulting in a two-day detention.
Fire starts in cargo hold filled with scrap metal
The fire is believed to have started in the vessel’s cargo hold, where scrap metal was being transported.
The nature of the cargo has raised concerns about the potential for toxic fumes, with one local reporting that the “smell of burning plastic is very strong”.
Port operator assists emergency response
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.”
The port operator worked closely with emergency services to coordinate the response and ensure the safety of other vessels and port workers in the area.
Echoes of recent maritime disaster
The incident comes just months after a maritime disaster off the coast of Hull between a cargo ship and an oil tanker.
That collision in March 2025 saw a cargo ship strike a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military, setting both vessels ablaze and causing significant environmental concerns.
Smoke visible for miles as city holds its breath
As the morning wore on, the enormous plume of smoke became visible across much of East Yorkshire, with drivers on the A63 warned about potential visibility issues.
Smoke billowed across from Hull’s Albert Dock towards Hull College and Murdoch’s Connection over the A63, creating hazardous driving conditions.
With firefighters still battling the blaze at the time of writing, residents across Hull remained locked in their homes, waiting anxiously for news that the toxic threat had passed.
The full environmental impact of the fire, and the extent of damage to the vessel, remains to be seen as this breaking story continues to develop.
Image credit: Photo by Ian S, taken on 19 October 2013 at Albert Dock, Kingston upon Hull (grid TA0927). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY‑SA 2.0)
Image page: View on Geograph – “Albert Dock, Hull”
