Engine failure leads to loss of containers
MAERSK provided additional details related to the causes of the incident aboard its vessel the Maersk Eindhoven and the initial recovery plan.
The 13,100 TEU vessel is seeking a port of refuge after having suffered a brief power failure that led up to the loss of containers overboard in the Pacific Ocean east of Japan.
In the initial reports of the incident, Maersk said that the vessel had lost power.
After reviewing information from the ship, they are now reporting that the ship lost engine propulsion for three to four minutes while sailing 45 nautical miles off Northern Japan on February 17.
“The initial analysis indicates engine oil pressure triggered a safety feature, causing the engines to shut down,” Maersk reported.
“No malfunction or maintenance issues have been identified.”
The loss of maneuverability came while the vessel was sailing in heavy seas and resulted in severe rolling.
The motion of the vessel caused to 260 containers to be lost overboard and an additional 65 containers to be damaged but remain on deck.
The vessel also sustained slight damage.
Propulsion power was quickly restored on the vessel and it appears from the AIS data that she may have resumed course before deciding to return to Asia.
The Maersk Eindhoven had departed Xiamen, China sailing to Los Angeles where she was due on March 1 on Maersk’s weekly TP6 Asia/US West coast service.
After the incident, Maersk reports that the vessel is operating normally and is now in calm seas returning to a North Asia port for inspection and repair.
While the port of refuge had not been announced, the vessel’s AIS appears to be indicating that she is heading to Yokohama, Japan due to arrive on March 1.