Maersk Line Making Plans to Tow Fire-Scorched Safmarine Meru to Port

File photo of the Safmarine Meru provided by Maersk. Credit: Maersk Line

Maersk Line is working with Chinese authorities on a plan to tow the fire-scorched Safmarine Meru to port following Sunday morning’s collision off Ningbo, China, the shipping company said in an update Tuesday. 

All crew members of the containership remain safe after they were forced to abandon ship after the collision. 

The update on Tuesday said that all external fire fighting has concluded and that Chinese authorities and representatives from Maersk Line were able to board the ship during the day to begin assessing the damage and gather information needed to make plans for moving the vessel to shore.

The vessel is currently without power and has suffered some water ingress, but the condition is stable and the ship is considered suitable for towage, Maersk Line said. 

“We are currently cooperating with the Chinese authorities to develop a plan to safely tow the vessel alongside in the Port of Ningbo. We will not speculate or comment on the circumstances leading to the incident while investigations are ongoing,” says Palle Laursen, Head of Ship Management in Maersk Line.

The 4,650 TEU containership caught fire after it was involved in a collision with the German-owned containership Northern Jasper off the coast of Ningbo early Sunday morning. No injuries were reported among either of the two crews. 

gCaptain’s previous coverage including a photo of the damage and AIS recreation of the collision can be found HERE. 

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