Mariners in the Gulf of Mexico region reported to us yesterday of a continual alert being received over distress frequencies off Cuba, one that we have been able to track back to the Hansa Berlin, a 19 year-old Liberian-flagged containership owned by Leonhardt & Blumberg.
Image (c) CaptTurboboss/MarineTraffic.com
The US Coast Guard confirmed that the Liberian-flagged vessel has run aground and that Cuban authorities are currently in charge of the situation.
*UPDATE*
Shipmanagers Leonhardt & Blumberg confirmed for us this morning that the Hansa Berlin did in fact run aground on Sunday, approximately 20 miles west of Havana after suffering an engine failure. All 19 crew were evacuated via helicopter and are now safely ashore in Cuba.
Weather conditions are currently hampering efforts to ascertain the exact status of the ship and cargo.
Hansa Berlin is a 1993 built container vessel with a capacity of 1.016 TEU. She is flying the Liberian flag. Hansa Berlin was on her way from Santiago de Cuba to Havana.
Please contact us directly at [email protected] if you have details or photos of this incident.
Container spot freight rates on the transpacific trade into the North America west coast managed to defy gravity and edge up this week, while most other east-west trades witnessed a third consecutive week of declines.
Singapore-based liner giant Ocean Network Express reported a modest but resilient profit for fiscal year 2025, navigating weak cargo demand, rising capacity, and mounting geopolitical disruption across key trade lanes. The company...
Spot container rates extended their downward trend for a third consecutive week, underscoring the growing disconnect between geopolitical disruption and underlying market fundamentals. According to the latest weekly update from Drewry,...
April 30, 2026
Total Views: 302
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 106,361 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 106,361 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.