MAERSK SALTORO

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Container ship resumed voyage after temporary repairs

The 'Maersk Saltoro' was back underway on Feb 5, after drifting for 23 days in the Pacific following a main engine failure. The vessel previously drew attention when U.S. officials boarded it in Baltimore in Sept 2024 to conduct an inspection due to it being a sister ship to the 'Dali'. The vessel's main engine failed after having departed Chile on Dec 27. The tug company Pacific International reports that its Marshall Islands Towing and Salvage Company deployed a tug on Jan 22 which took aboard four technicians in Kosrae, in the Federated States of Micronesia, before proceeding to the 'Maersk Saltoro', which was adrift approximately 550 miles west of Pohnpei, also in Micronesia. Temporary repairs have been completed, and the schedule is now showing the ship will reach the Nansha New Port in China on Feb 18, depending on weather conditions during the remainder of the voyage. It will be a month behind schedule and then continuing to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Ningbo. It is unclear when or where permanent repairs will be completed. Maersk as charter company was monitoring the situation and was in contact with the vessel’s owners. The ship and crew as well as its cargo were in no danger and the owners assured them the refrigerated containers were continuing to operate during the breakdown. The vessel was part of a seasonal service known as the Cherry Express. Growers were concerned because the vessel was loaded with 1,353 refrigerated containers of cherries shipped to China to coincide with the Lunar New Year’s celebrations. The worry was that the long transit times has affected the quality of the shipment and decrease its value in addition to the impact of the late arrival.

Engine damage raises legal question

The 'Maersk Saltoro', which had set sail on Dec 27 from the main port of San Antonio in Chile with more than 1,300 containers full of cherries and an ETA at Nansha as of Jan 20, remained NUC in the the waters of Micronesia as of Jan 28. about 1,200 kilometers northeast of New Guinea, after suffering a technical failure in its main engine, which forced it to stop while the necessary repairs were being carried out. The Maersk company assured that it was in contact with the owners of the ship and the affected clients to report on the progress of the work and the next stages of the trip. The delay could lead to million-dollar losses for those involved in the export chain and also raised questions about legal responsibilities and possible compensation. The expert lawyer and founder of Legal Export, Rafael Durán, stressed that it must be analyzed whether the technical problem can be classified as a fortuitous event that exonerates the shipping company from any fault. To do so, certain criteria must be met: that the event is external, unforeseeable and irresistible. In addition, it is essential to check whether the ship had all the necessary certifications and preventive maintenance to guarantee its navigability. In the event that any negligence is proven, those affected could request relevant documentation from the shipping company, as permitted by Chilean maritime legislation. Exporters should also record any physical or commercial damage suffered by the cargo and submit protest notes within the time stipulated by law. The possibility that the shipping company declares “general average” to distribute the repair costs among the owners of the cargo is an additional concern. This scenario would imply unforeseen expenses for the owners of the containers. Given this uncertainty, exporters are advised to act with diligence, minimize potential damage and document all efforts made to protect their interests.

Container ship broke down

The 'Maersk Saltoro' broke down on Jan 13, 2025 ( Lat. 6.4326 Lng. 161.8149'), en route from San Antonio in Chile to Nansha. The ship was supposed to arrive in the port of destination on Jan 19, but is currently stationary in Micronesia. The ship has, among other things, 1,300 containers with fresh Chilean cherries on board, cherries that were supposed to be on the table for Chinese New Year on Jan 29. Now the cherries risk going bad before they reach Chinese consumers, with major losses as a result. Maersk confirmed that problems have arisen with the ship and that everything was being done to have it repaired as quickly as possible. A special team is ready to speak to customers who are concerned about their goods on board the 'Maersk Saltoro', which was still NUC on Jan 26 in pos. 02° 14' N 155° 17' E.