Maersk container ships

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

The Mathilde Maersk was on a routine voyage, until a crew member spotted a floating life raft. The five fishermen had been stranded for two days, but thanks to the crew’s skill and quick thinking, all survived, and were reunited with their families.

https://www.maerskline.com/en/news/2017/11/21/mathilde-maersk-rescues-stranded-fishermen

Amazing story! Mathilde Maersk is one of the largest ships in the world, and definitely when built one of the largest container ships, a record held by her together with her Triple-E Maersk sisters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maersk_Triple_E-class_container_ship

Great skill by the Captain and crew to manoeuvre her exactly to where the life raft was bobbing about in 4 to 5 m high waves and to rescue the fishermen directly into the ship...

[Twynkle]

Hi Isabelle
We saw Mathilda not long ago - she moves surprisingly fast!
They are incredibly strict in the way that their ships are run,
I know from a very few of QE2 Crew who were recruited in / after 2008
Rosie

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Maersk Honam had a tragic fire on board, on 6 March, with one crew member dead and four missing. 23 crew members are reported evacuated to the nearby vessel ALS Ceres, which arrived at the scene.

A number of container vessels have diverted their route to assist in the search and rescue operation which continues.

https://www.maersk.com/press/press-release-archive/one-evacuated-crew-member-has-passed-away

The cause of the fire in the cargo hold is so far unknown.

Update : Remains of three of the four missing crew members found on board the ship, the fourth still missing. The fire is still blazing, cause being investigated.

https://www.maerskline.com/news/2018/03/12/remains-of-three-out-of-four-missing-crews

[Bruce Nicholls]

Maersk Honam had a tragic fire on board, on 6 March, with one crew member dead and four missing. 23 crew members are reported evacuated to the nearby vessel ALS Ceres, which arrived at the scene.

A number of container vessels have diverted their route to assist in the search and rescue operation which continues.

https://www.maersk.com/press/press-release-archive/one-evacuated-crew-member-has-passed-away

The cause of the fire in the cargo hold is so far unknown.

I read an article recently which claimed fires are becoming increasingly common on very large container ships and that it is only a matter of time before there is a real disaster. It claimed that burnt out and fire damaged containers are regularly found when unloading them. Main cause was claimed to be miss declared dangerous contents and the large amount of Chinese fireworks being shipped.

[June Ingram]

So saddened to hear about the fire on Maersk Honam. 

[ship pro]

I was on the ship last year as she was being completed, maersk ships are very well designed. This explosion is something totally un expected and is most probably caused by some undeclared cargo such as fireworks because it was an explosion. The crew did a good job abandoning her as quick as they did,a 29 man crew can not handle something like this. Sad 4 crew are missing and 1 has died

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

That is very sad! And how awful that dangerous substances can be stored in innocent containers, endangering lives, ships and other people's property...

Are the contents of containers not checked and approved by authorised agents and by Customs of the country of departure?

[Peter Mugridge]

Are the contents of containers not checked and approved by authorised agents and by Customs of the country of departure?

It's probably a random check on a certain number of containers?

I doubt anywhere would have the manpower to check everything being sent, given the huge volumes being transported these days?

[Chris Thompson]

If you are in the South East USA visit Savannah, great place for Maersk spotting, along with many others.
Ships sail right by River St.....party central!!!!

[Rod]

http://splash247.com/remains-three-missing-crew-found-onboard-maersk-honam/

[Lynda Bradford]

Sad that the remain have been found, but hope it brings closure to the families.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Update : Remains of three of the four missing crew members found on board the ship, the fourth still missing. The fire is still blazing, cause being investigated.

https://www.maerskline.com/news/2018/03/12/remains-of-three-out-of-four-missing-crews

http://splash247.com/remains-three-missing-crew-found-onboard-maersk-honam/

What a horrifying photograph in this article! If this explosion and fire was caused by undeclared dangerous substances in a container, I can only feel anger vis-à-vis those who risk other people's lives and loves and possessions in this way...

May the five crew members rest in peace, and may their families receive all the care and support they need...