Fire in Under-construction Chinese Helicopter Carrier

A fire broke out in the under-construction Type 075 ship, China’s first helicopter carrier; images in social media seem to indicate.

The Type 075 helicopter carrier is currently being out-fitted out at the Hudong shipyard of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) in Shanghai.

Amateur photos posted on Twitter show smoke billowing out of the carrier and a later photo shows no smoke indicating that the fire may have been put off.

First photos appeared this morning and latter photos around noon. There is no official word about this incident from the Chinese Navy or the shipbuilder, CSIC.

The images are significant in that they show neither fire tenders nor any human presence as would happen in case of fire emergency. Its occurrence in a secured ship-building facility leaves room for  doubt.

The Type 075 are China’s answer to the US Wasp- class and the French Mistral –class amphibious assault ships carrying a complement of helicopters and amphibious vehicles intended for quick deployment on shore.