The 13,100 teu Maersk Eindhoven is waiting in Japanese waters to berth at APM Terminals Yokohama on 25 February.
The vessel lost engine propulsion for 3-4 minutes in heavy weather 45km north of Japan on 17 February and severe rolling caused the containership to lose 260 boxes overboard and damage to a further 65 containers.
“The ship’s engine and seaworthiness is in good working order and the port call repairs will address some steel railings, inspection of hatch covers and other activities that the surveyors might find,” Maersk said in customer advisory.
“At this point in time, we have ensured that all replacement materials and welding activities can be performed in port.”
The vessel is expected to resume normal service on Maersk’s TP6 route once repairs are completed.
It is the latest in a series of container losses in severe weather on transpacific voyages, although in this case triggered by engine failure rather than solely the prevailing weather conditions.
The Maersk Essen was reported to have lost 750 containers overboard in January, and the ONE Apus lost 1,816 containers in the Pacific on 30 November, and there have been number of smaller incidents. The incidents have coincided with a period of unprecedented demand growth on the transpacific trade with vessels loaded to maximum capacity.
The numbers of containers lost overboard in both 2020 and now 2021 are set to exceed the average of 1,382 containers were lost per year between 2008 and 2019 according to the World Shipping Council.
