A chemical tanker that was recently acquired by Stolt-Nielsen has suffered a fire off Houston.

US Coast Guard Petty Officer Dustin Williams tells TradeWinds that the blaze started in the engine room of the 19,500-dwt Jo Kiri (built 2003), which Oslo-listed chemical tanker owner bought as part of its acquisition of Norway's Jo Tankers.

The incident led to a brief closure of the Houston Ship Channel that was lifted when the Singaporean-flag vessel was towed to a nearby dock.

Williams