A container ship operated by China’s BAL Container Line on the Transpacific route suffered engine failure while en route to Ningbo, China from Los Angeles, US.
The 5,053 TEU CSL Santa Maria stalled off Japan’s Oki Island and had to be towed to Yeosu, South Korea, for repairs.
According to the Japan Coast Guard, CSL Santa Maria had an engine failure while passing the waters near Oki Island in Shimane Prefecture, Japan around 3:43 am local time on 1 February.
CSL Santa Maria was carrying 2,000 empty containers to Ningbo from Los Angeles when the engine stopped due to a generator failure.
The boxship dropped anchor in the waters 800m off Oki Island. Japan Coast Guard personnel assessed that there was no hull damage or oil spill and the only problem was engine failure. At around 6:35 pm local time on 2 February, it was towed to Yeosu where the ship remains today.
The 2005-built CSL Santa Maria is owned by Cyprus Sea Lines and has 19 crew members on board, including 11 Ukrainians, six Filipinos, one Nigerian and one Greek.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
