Fire Consumes Freighter Near Barranquilla

[Brief] Authorities in Palermo, Colombia, a small town near Barranquilla, reported that a fire consumed the general cargo ship Casanova. 

Witnesses told the local El Heraldo that the fire began in the engine room and spread through the deckhouse. 

The Coast Guard, along with the Port of Barranquilla and the local fire department, are responding to the incident. 

Only one person was on board at the time of the fire, and he was not injured. 

Equasis records show that the Casanova (exname Virgin Express) was sold to an undisclosed interest in 2011. Her status is listed as laid-up.

The Casanova has a colorful history: in 2009, when she was the Virgin Express I, she was repossessed by a maritime vessel recovery contractor. According to a profile in the New York Times, the maritime "repo man" Max Hardberger boarded her by impersonating a shipper, took control and sailed her to the Turks and Caicos Islands – where he handed her over to a lienholder.