THE 15,550-TEU Emma Maersk, one of the world's biggest box ships, was
towed into the Suez Canal Container Terminal after 18 metres of water
flooded its engine room, cutting power, and prompting fears the ship
would sink and block the canal.
Built in 2006, the 397-metre long, 56-metre wide Emma Maersk was the
first of a new class of mega ships, first rated at 14,000-TEU, but then
increased to more than 15,550-TEU with another layer of boxes was added
to the weather deck. Only recently has a ship with larger cargo capacity entered service.
Maersk Line has since ordered its other big ships to stop using stern
thrusters until investigators have discovered the cause of a flooding at the weekend as divers have spotted the place where water gushed in.
Investigators think water entered the ship through one of the stern
thrusters openings, and then may have flooded through the 120-metre
propeller shaft to the engine room, which is located below the
accommodation block amidships. The 14-cylinder engine remains partly
submerged and will be left under water until the situation has been
fully assessed, rather than risk further damage by exposing it to
oxygen.
Loaded with 13,537 TEU, half of which were empty, the Emma Maersk had
just entered the canal. All cargo will now be discharged and loaded onto other ships, a spokesman told Lloyd's List. Maersk Line is still making the arrangements and considering whether its own ships pick up the
cargo, or if a chartered vessel will be needed.
Also unclear at this stage is the extent of damage to its huge
14-cylinder engine, and whether it is repairable, said the report.
Investigators have yet to determine how the water entered the engine
room and whether the hull was damaged.
News of the incident first surfaced on social media sites, with some
tweets claiming the Emma Maersk could sink, reported London's
Containerisation International.
But the Danish shipping giant said there was never any danger of that.
"The initial assessment is that the vessel was not at any time in any
danger of sinking, nor was the crew at any time in danger. However, the
main engine lost power and the vessel was not able to sail on its own,"
the company said.
ACCIDENTS
05 February 2013 - 20:37
Emma Maersk disabled by engine room flood, towed from Suez Canal
THE 15,550-TEU Emma Maersk, one of the world's biggest box ships, was
towed into the Suez Canal Container Terminal after 18 metres of water
flooded its engine room, cutting power...
ACCIDENTS
05 February 2013 - 20:37
Emma Maersk disabled by engine room flood, towed from Suez Canal
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