A second AP Moller-Maersk boxship has lost containers overboard in less than a month.
The shipowner advised clients that the 13,092-teu Maersk Eindhoven (built 2010) experienced an "engine stop" in harsh weather off Japan on Wednesday while en route from Xiamen, southern China, to Los Angeles.
The vessel was running on the TP6 Asia/US West Coast-service.
Maersk said later the vessel had "regrettably" lost 260 containers.
After restoring propulsion, the vessel has turned around, Maersk added.
"We continue to take the situation very seriously and are in the process of conducting an investigation of the incident," the company said.
"Preliminary findings indicate that an engine stop and loss of manoeuvring in rough seas led to severe rolling as the reason for the accident."
All crew members have been reported safe.
The group is now assessing the nearest suitable port options in Asia to berth the vessel, which is owned by Minsheng Financial Leasing.
Insurance cover is provided by Britannia Steamship. The ship has no port state control detentions on its record.
Spate of recent incidents
A Mediterranean Shipping Co boxship lost 41 containers in the Pacific on 29 January in what was then the third incident of its kind in less than three months.
The 14,952-teu MSC Aries (built 2020) was sailing from Long Beach, California, to Ningbo in China.
That followed the huge loss of around 1,800 containers from Ocean Network Express's 14,026-teu ONE Apus (built 2019) in the North Pacific at the end of last November.
A further 750 containers were lost in the same area from the Maersk-controlled 13,092-teu Maersk Essen (built 2010) in January.
The ONE Apus and Maersk Essen incidents were blamed on the weather.
TradeWinds has reported that the incidents are likely to draw attention to stowage arrangements of vessels on the trade in which ships are sailing at full capacity.
With container terminals also busy, questions will be raised as to whether ships are sailing through potentially hazardous weather to meet schedules.
