A Maersk Line containership has been left disabled in the Caribbean after she reportedly suffered a shipboard fire.
The DP2-rated anchor handler ALP Defender (built 2017) was reported to be due to rendezvous with the 1,810-teu Maersk Vilnius (built 2010) on Wednesday.
The Fort de France Maritime Rescue Coordination Center said it was put on alert about the fire aboard the vessel earlier this week.
It is in charge of search and rescue operations within a 3.5m sq km area, from Anguilla to Saint Lucia, including French Guyana.
Recovery agent WE Cox Claims Group said the ship suffered a fire in the engine room some 220 nautical miles from the French Overseas territory of Guadeloupe.
“The vessel was drifting in a westerly direction at a speed of 1.4 knots, and the engine may no longer be operable, considering the reported damage,” it said.
“The shipowner has despatched tug ALP Defender from Trinidad and Tobago. The plan is to tow Maersk Vilnius to a port for repairs.”
The Singapore-flagged Maersk Vilnius was en route from Freeport Bahamas to Port Elizabeth, South Africa when the incident occurred.
