SOVEREIGN MAERSK, at 6 600 TEUs among the world's largest container ships, had to be towed into port in Japan last week after an explosion in her engine room.
The ship was carrying a cargo of 5 900 TEUs on board for the US West Coast when she came to a stop in mid-ocean. Early indications are that a bearing in the crankshaft overheated. A ship's engineer was injured when he went to investigate the alarm and was caught in the explosion and fire, which was described as very big.
Although the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined Maersk put out an immediate cautionary notice to all its vessels equipped with MAN B&W-designed engines.
The line was forced to reschedule its service as a result of the incident.
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