Maersk Line Ship Detained in Tunisia over Honam Claims

A 1,068 TEU containership, owned by Maersk Line, has been detained in Tunisia in relation to claims on Maersk Honam fire, the Danish shipping major informed.

“We can confirm that on September 10, 2018 the vessel Alexander Maersk was detained in the Port of Sfax, Tunisia,” a spokesperson from Maersk said.

The spokesperson added that the detention is related “to different claims cases which we are looking into and have informed our insurance company about. We cooperate with all relevant authorities to resolve the matter as quickly as possible”

The Danish flagged container vessel Alexander Maersk, deployed on a SeagoLine-service in the Eastern Mediterranean, arrived in Tunisia on September 8 and was subsequently arrested in relation to claims on losses shippers suffered in the Maersk Honam fire.

The ultra large boxship was hit by a serious fire on March 6, while it was sailing around 900 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman. The fire claimed the lives of a total of five crew members.

Maersk Honam, which was carrying 7,860 containers at the time of the incident, spent over two months at sea before berthing at Jebel Ali port on May 27.

At the time, Maersk Line said that “containers which have been declared sound and for which all General Average and Salvage securities have been submitted” were released and loaded on other vessels for transport to their final destination.

The company added that the condition of the vessel was to be further evaluated, confirming Maersk Line’s earlier announced plans to repair the fire-stricken Maersk Honam.

World Maritime News Staff