En route to Tanger Med, a Maersk container ship catches fire off the coast of Brazil

The incident occurred on September 4, approximately 170 nautical miles off the Brazilian coast. According to W.E. Cox Claims Group, the fire is believed to have started in the container ship’s engine room.

The ship was carrying 26 crew members. Several vessels sailing in the area were diverted to assist it.

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In a notice sent to its customers on September 10, CMA CGM for its part referred to an engine breakdown. The company confirmed that the Maersk Lanco could not continue on its route to Tanger as planned.

The container ship was therefore directed to Salvador de Bahia for inspection and repairs. CMA CGM warned its customers that the transported goods would arrive late. No new schedule has yet been announced.

The cargo could be placed under general average

W.E. Cox estimates that the shipowner could declare general average. This maritime procedure makes it possible to distribute between the ship and the cargo owners certain expenses incurred to save the vessel and its cargo. The affected shippers may then be required to provide a guarantee before recovering their containers.

Flying the Danish flag, the Maersk Lanco is nearly 300 meters long and has a gross tonnage of 99,792 tons. Built in 2013, it belongs to Maersk and operates on the NEOSAMBA/SAFRAN1 loop, which connects the east coast of South America to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

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Tanger Med was its next port of call. The Moroccan port, which has just become the world’s 16th-largest container port, occupies an important position on routes connecting South America to European and Mediterranean markets.