A major firefighting operation is underway aboard the Marie Maersk after a blaze erupted off the coast of Liberia, gcaptain reports. The fire was first detected on Wednesday, when crew members spotted smoke coming from containers while the ship was sailing from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas.
Maersk confirmed that all crew remain safe as they work to contain the fire. Two specialized firefighting tugs arrived late Wednesday to assist, while another Maersk vessel is standing by to offer further support if necessary.
The Marie Maersk, flying the Danish flag, is part of the company’s Triple-E class of ultra-large container vessels. At 399 meters long and 59 meters wide, with capacity for 18,000 TEUs, it was the fourth ship in the series when it entered service in 2013.
Tracking data currently lists the ship’s status as “Restricted Maneuverability” as it drifts off Liberia. Dutch salvage firm SMIT Salvage has sent two tugs equipped for firefighting, joining the effort to bring the situation under control.
The vessel was operating on the Gemini Cooperation’s Asia–Europe service when the incident occurred. Maersk has yet to disclose the cause of the fire or the extent of any damage to cargo or the ship itself.
This is the latest in a troubling pattern of container ship fires in recent years – an issue that continues to raise concerns over fire safety on today’s ever-larger cargo vessels.
Picture: tcly / Shutterstock
