Maersk Line has declared general average following the fatal fire on its boxship Maersk Honam off India.
2M alliance partner MSC said it had been told Maersk expects the incident last Tuesday to result in "high extraordinary costs".
The general average will share losses between all parties involved.
"Maersk Line has not yet confirmed when and where their vessel will be berthed and discharged," MSC added.
Richards Hogg Lindley (RHL) of London has been appointed general adjuster.
RHL told MSC it intends to keep all boxes, including MSC's containers, under its control until security arrangements have been made with the average adjusters, both for general average and salvage.
MSC told customers to contact their insurers to notify them of the situation so that cargo can be released without delay.
"We have not received any reliable information regarding the condition of your cargo, but we will be sure to inform you after we are notified," it added in a note.
Five crew died when the blaze broke out 340 miles from the Lakshadweep Islands.
Smit and Ardent have been brought in to deal with the incident.
