According to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), on February 18, a container ro-ro ship operated by Grandi broke out in the English Channel and subsequently drifted.

The 26,000 DWT, Maltese registered "Grande Brasile" was sailing south to the French port of Le Havre when a fire broke out in the cabin on Tuesday morning (local time).

The crew informed the British authorities that the ship had lost power and rudder effect and sent out a distress signal. The MCA directed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to send a rescue boat to assist the Grande Brazil, which eventually stopped about 15 nautical miles off Ramsgate.

With the help of the ship's own fire extinguishing system, the fire was eventually extinguished and all 28 crew members on board were safe.