by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
Update: 04.09.2025
Following initial assessments, Maersk has confirmed that the Marie Maersk will proceed to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia, where it will berth to discharge both sound and damaged containers, conduct cleaning operations, and perform minor repairs. The estimated time of arrival is expected to be announced shortly.
In response to the incident, Maersk has declared General Average (GA), a maritime law principle invoked when extraordinary sacrifices or expenses are made to preserve the safety of the vessel and cargo. The declaration means that all cargo interests must contribute proportionally to the costs incurred.
Containers discharged at Tanjung Pelepas or any alternative port will not be released for onward carriage or delivery until the required GA security arrangements are completed. Cargo owners are advised to contact their insurance providers promptly to initiate the necessary procedures.
According to Kuehne+Nagel's seaexplorer, the Marie Maersk is currently sailing past Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. A predicted arrival time is 12 September.
Kuehne+Nagel is monitoring the developments closely and will report updates as soon as they become available.
Update: 26.08.2025
According to news reports, containership Marie Maersk has resumed its eastbound journey after the fire on board was contained.
The ship is reportedly heading towards Asia after the firefighting team determined it is safe to proceed.
“After an inspection of affected areas of the vessel and careful consideration of all aspects together with authorities and class, it was deemed safe that Marie Maersk resume her eastbound voyage around Cape of Good Hope on Sunday,” Maersk reports.
However, the next port of call is yet unconfirmed.
With this development, liner Maersk seeks to avoid further disruptions to its network and is looking for an optimal place to handle the damaged containers.
Update: 25.08.2025
The latest update concerning the fire on board the containership Marie Maersk shows that firefighting efforts are still ongoing to contain the situation.
While the fire is under control, flames in the ship's forward bays have not been completely extinguished.
According to a TradeWinds report on 25 August, Maersk says that the situation is stable, but "one container which has been flooded with water still shows an elevated temperature."
The ship reached for additional firefighting supplies from another vessel, which would be loaded onboard for further assistance.
It remains unclear if the vessel will seek a port of refuge in the West African region.
Kuehne+Nagel is monitoring the developments closely and will report updates as soon as they become available.
Update: 18.08.2025
As of the latest update provided by Maersk on 15 August, firefighting efforts were still ongoing after additional firefighting tugs had been mobilised to support.
The vessel remains in stable condition, with all machinery, steering, and navigational equipment fully operational. However, according to a report by ShippingWatch, the fire was not fully extinguished.
Seaexplorer shows that Marie Maersk continues to sail off the Liberian coast, with diversion ports under consideration.
Maersk has confirmed that all crew members are safe and remain on board, following the established protocols to control the situation.
Original article: 14.08.2025
A fire erupted on board container vessel Marie Maersk on Wednesday, 13 August, according to a statement by liner Maersk.
The crew detected smoke emanating from containers on board the vessel while en route from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia.
The 18,270-TEU vessel is deployed on Maersk’s AE5 mainline service, connecting Asia with North Europe.
Maersk confirmed that all crew members are safe and remain on board, following firefighting procedures to control the situation.
According to media reports, the vessel was diverted towards the West African shore to secure landside support as quickly as possible.
For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map.
