Following the loss of over 500 containers this February from the containership Svendborg Maersk during a storm in the Bay of Biscay, French maritime authorities have tasked Maersk Line with locating the missing containers on the seabed as they could present a hazard to local fishermen.

Michael Storgaard, Senior Press Officer from Maersk provided the following statement on the matter:

In February this year, Svendborg Maersk lost more than 500 containers (85% were empty and no containers with dangerous goods)overboard during a severe storm with Hurricane force winds in the Bay of Biscay (Golfe de Gascoigne).

Therefore, Maersk Line has – in close cooperation with the local maritime authority (Maritime Prefect for the Atlantic) – undertaken to scan the seabed around the two positions in the Bay of Biscay (Golfe de Gascoigne), where the containers were lost.

The scan will assess possible anomalies in sea depth in order to pinpoint in the sea charts of the area any potential hazards to the fishermen’s community.

The scanning will be commenced once the survey vessel is available which is expected this summer.

We have had a constructive dialogue and understanding with local authorities in both France and UK, and we remain committed doing our part to best mitigate the consequences of the Svendborg Maersk incident.