Update: Fire-stricken Maersk Elba en route to Algeciras December 30, 2020, by Naida Hakirevic
Maersk Elba, a Neopanamax containership that suffered engine failure off Portugal after a fire onboard several days ago, is now being towed to the Port of Algeciras in Spain, Portuguese National Maritime Authority (AMN) said. Image Courtesy: Autoridade Marítima Nacional
Two tugs are towing the 2011-built boxship. The Portuguese Navy patrol vessel NRP Cassiopeia is also accompanying the ship until it leaves the country’s territorial waters.
“As a result of the work carried out to restore the ship’s propulsion and repair other systems affected by the fire, it was concluded that the safety conditions were not met for the ship to sail by its own means,” AMN informed, adding that experts and the shipowner decided to transfer Maersk Elba to a shipyard in Algeciras.