Maersk Elba Under Tow to Algeciras Following Engine Room Fire

Photo: National Maritime Authority of Portugal

Maersk Elba Under Tow to Algeciras Following Engine Room Fire

Mike Schuler December 30, 2020

The Maersk Elba is under tow to the Port of Algeciras following an engine room fire that left the ship disabled just off Portugal’s southern coast.

The fire broke out December 26 as the containership was underway from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Felixstowe in the U.K.

According to Portugal’s National Maritime Authority, an alert was received through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa) reporting that a ship was adrift and without propulsion due to a fire in the engine room.

The fire was contained and extinguished without injury to the ship’s crew and the vessel was able to anchor 2 miles off the coast of Sagres, the AMN said.

An update from agency this week said an inspection of the Maersk Elba determined that it was unable to sail under its own power and it is now under tow by two tugs to Algeciras, Spain with an expected arrival on Thursday, December 31, according to AIS data.

The 370-meter-long Maersk Elba is a 13,100 TEU built in 2010 and registered in Denmark.

“Maersk has informed MSC of an incident involving a fire on its container ship MAERSK ELBA, en route from Suez to Felixstowe,” MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company said in a notice to customers. “As a result of the incident, the vessel is currently under towage and is expected to arrive at Algeciras, Spain on 31 December 2020. The vessel will undergo temporary repairs before resuming her voyage to Europe.”

“The MAERSK ELBA was carrying cargo for MSC customers as part of our Shogun-Pearl service. We have been in touch with customers impacted by the incident.”