Update: Fire-Stricken Safmarine Meru Towed to Ningbo

The Safmarine Meru containership, which was hit by a fire over the weekend, has arrived alongside at the Meishan container terminal in the Port of Ningbo, China on May 13 at 11.10 hours CET, according to the vessel’s owner Maersk Line.

The arrival concluded a towing voyage of 78 nautical miles from the incident site East of Ningbo.

Earlier this week a firefighting team went onboard the 4,650 TEU ship to extinguish remaining spots of smoulder, thus putting out the fire.

According to Maersk, the fire was put under control on May 10 when an inspection on board determined that the vessel was without power and had suffered some water ingress. However, the survey further determined that the ship’s condition was stable and suitable for towage.

“We are pleased for the Safmarine Meru to be safely berthed and that all crew remain safe, sound and accounted for. Our current priorities are to safely discharge the cargo and conduct inspections to further survey the damages to the vessel,” said Palle Laursen, Head of Ship Management.

The fire aboard the 2006-built vessel broke out after it collided with a German-owned container vessel Northern Jasper on May 7, 2016.

At the time of the incident Safmarine Meru, which was en route from Qingdao to Ningbo in China, was carrying less than 400 full containers.