Fire at Chinese Type 075 Helicopter Carrier (UPDATED)

According to Chinese local social media accounts, the first Chinese Type 075 landing helicopter dock (LHD) caught fire while in the dock at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on 10th April.

There’s no declaration from Chinese officials yet, so damage assessment is not possible for the amphibious assault ship. As we see at the photos, it appears the fire emanated from, or at least involved its well deck. (A well deck is a floodable garage-like space that is used on amphibious assault ships for launching and recovering ship-to-shore transport boats and hovercraft, as well as amphibious fighting vehicles.)

The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a class of Chinese amphibious assault ship under construction by the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding company. The Type 075 helicopter dock is a new generation of amphibious assault vessel and far larger than similar ships previously constructed for the PLA Navy. The Type 075 would give the Chinese navy the ability to launch various types of helicopters to attack naval vessels, enemy ground forces or submarines. The vessels will also be able to deploy landing craft and troops, plus house command and control operations.

On September 25, 2019 the PLAN officially launched the first Type 075. A second Type 075 is being simultaneously built in the same dry dock as the first Type 075 and is likely that the third planned Type 075 will be built in the same location.

UPDATE : The cause of the fire : An electric pole spark on the top of the landing pod of the amphibious assault ship 075, which was undergoing welding operations, ignited the foam box packaging materials stored on the landing bay floor of the amphibious assault ship. Repair work has begun and the ship, which was blackened by smoke, has been initially repaired and repainted.