Maersk reports that its cargo vessel Maersk Eindhoven has resumed its voyage recovering faster than expected from the recent incident. The vessel lost propulsion power, resulting in 260 containers being lost overboard east of Japan and another 65 containers were damaged but remained on board.
The 13,100 TEU containership departed APM Terminals Yokohama on March 2 resuming the interrupted voyage from Xiamen, China, sailing to Los Angeles. The current estimated time of arrival is March 13 at the Los Angeles anchorage. Maersk had previously estimated that the vessel would remain at the APM terminal until March 5, in part due to the need to leave the terminal from Feb. 28 to March 1 for a scheduled arrival of the vessel.
“The vessel will sail as fast as deemed safe under the prevailing weather conditions to get the vessel to Los Angeles as soon as possible,” Maersk informed its customers in a bulletin. After leaving Yokohama, the vessel’s AIS reported a speed of 20 knots as it resumed the Pacific crossing.
While in Yokohama, they unloaded the damaged containers and inspected the bays. Maersk had said they believed the vessel had suffered only minor damage and had been told by the vendors that all necessary welding and repairs could be carried out in Yokohama.
Once the Maersk Eindhoven arrives in Los Angeles, it will enter the anchorage awaiting terminal space. However, the backlog in Los Angeles appears to be slowing, as the Marine Exchange of Southern California reported earlier this week that it had dwindled to 30 containerships in the anchorage. In January and February, vessels spent up to eight days at anchorage before being able to move to the terminal.
In addition, Maersk has been working to try to expedite the arrival of the Maersk Essen and now the Maersk Eindhoven. “Efforts are continuing to try to move it forward in the Los Angeles anchorage waiting line so that it can get to the berth more quickly,” Maersk wrote to customers in the latest notice.
At the same time, the Maersk Essen was delayed in arriving in Los Angeles after leaving Lazaro Cardenas on February 22. It had lost 750 containers at sea and damaged other crates during a weather incident on January 16 and sailed to Mexico as a port of refuge for a recovery operation. Maersk had diverted the ship to Mexico instead of going directly to Los Angeles for the recovery operation.
After leaving Mexico, the Maersk Essen had two other incidents. First, on February 23 there was a medical evacuation near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a crew member who had injured his arm.
The next day, it was reported that the vessel “experienced an engine oil situation” that Maersk said was being resolved. The vessel anchored off Los Angeles on March 1 and the company expects it to move to the terminal later this week.
