Incident Aboard Marie Maersk Highlights Rising Frequency of Shipboard Fires

Aboard the ultra-large Maersk containership MARIE MAERSK, a fire broke out on Wednesday while en route from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas, causing the vessel to divert toward West Africa for urgent support.

Built in 2013 and rated at 19,076 TEU, the Triple-E class ship, part of Gemini Cooperation’s Asia–Europe AE4 service, detected smoke rising from deck containers in the early hours. The crew promptly deployed firefighting protocols, activating onboard systems to contain the blaze. Maersk confirmed that all crew are accounted for and safe, with navigation, propulsion, and steering systems continuing to function as normal.

To facilitate external support, the Marie Maersk altered course toward the Liberian coast. Several firefighting tugs have already been dispatched, with ongoing coordination between Maersk and the crew to manage the incident effectively. While the company remains in constant contact with the vessel, it has not yet confirmed the extent of cargo damaged by the fire.

Importantly, no explosions or secondary events have been reported. Monitoring continues as the response teams work to extinguish the fire and safeguard the vessel.

According to ShipAtlas, the ship departed Rotterdam on 4 August and remains currently off the Liberian coast, where the fire reportedly remains the sole issue—no injuries or structural breakdowns have been observed.

This incident highlights safety risks that persist even aboard modern, large-capacity boxships. For stakeholders across the maritime industry—from vessel operators to terminal planners—this serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proactive fire prevention protocols, container safety practices, and rapid-response readiness.

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