Laura Maersk Suffers Engine Issue off Alaska

The 265-meter-long containership Laura Maersk, which went adrift on July 14, was towed to Dutch Harbor, according to data provided by the US Coast Guard.

“We can confirm that vessel Laura Maersk , operating on our TP9 service between Vancouver (Canada) and Busan (Korea), has lost power in the main engine off the coast of Akutan in the Aleutian Islands,” Maersk Line’s spokesperson said.

The ship encountered troubles while it was sailing north of Akutan in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands when it lost power due to a malfunction of one of the turbo chargers, which resulted in the main engine being disabled. The ship was subsequently towed to anchorage to Dutch Harbor, Unalaska.

There were no injuries to the crew, further damages to the vessel or pollution reported following the incident and Maersk Line said that the vessel “was at no time at the risk of grounding.”

Earlier reports suggested that Laura Maersk was drifting close to land and that it was in danger of running aground.

AIS data provided by Marine Traffic shows that the 63,200 dwt containership is currently moored in the Unalaska Bay. An investigation into the incident and repair works will be conducted before the ship continues its journey.

World Maritime News Staff