Maersk Essen has arrived at anchorage outside APM Terminal’s Port of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, and is due to berth later this week.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]According to images, that we are now unable to show, up to six affected bays clearly visible in the stern of the vessel that have suffered a collapse as the ship sailed to the US. As the drone footage was released reports of another two vessels in the Pacific having suffered container collapses was reaching the news desk.
Maersk Essen is estimated to have lost 750 containers in a North Pacific storm on the 16 January while heading for Los Angeles from Xiamen in China. Congestion at the Port of Los Angeles meant that Maersk diverted Maersk Essen to Lázaro Cárdenas for the discharge of damaged cargo and the assessment of the vessel’s condition.
According to claims consultants WK Webster, “Plans for on-carriage of cargo to the intended port of destination have not been clarified, but recent information suggests that following repairs, the vessel is likely to re-stow discharged containers and sail to Los Angeles as originally intended. It is probable, however, that some containers will be unsuitable for on-carriage and will require to be trans-loaded or dealt with locally.”
WK Webster added that its legal experts in Mexico are examining “what will be very complex factual and liability issues.”
The company is finalising an access agreement with Maersk for the WK Webster expert “to carry out investigations into the cause of the casualty and we expect that attendance to take place at Lazaro Cardenas shortly.”
Nick Savvides
Managing Editor[/s2If]
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