Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, has confirmed that one of its ships was detained in the Port of Sfax, Tunisia, on 10 September over an insurance dispute related to the major ‘Maersk Honam’ fire incident back in March 2018.
According to local media sources, the 1,068 TEU container ship ‘Alexander Maersk’ arrived in Sfax on 8 September, but was arrested in relation to Tunisian shippers’ claims on cargo losses they suffered in Maersk Honam fire.
The 15,000 TEU boxship ‘Maersk Honam’ was en route from Singapore to Suez, on 6 March, when it sustained a serious fire in one of its cargo holds, southeast of Salalah, Oman, resulting in five dead crewmen and high costs in berthing and discharging operations of the surviving cargo.
On the aftermath, Maersk declared general average, which means that the surviving cargo has to pay a share of the cost for the vessel damage, the tow, clean up, legal settlements, etc.
Now the company said it will cooperate with all relevant authorities to resolve the matter.
This is related to different claims cases which we are looking into and have informed our insurance company about. We cooperate with all relevant authorities to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,
…said the Danish giant in an official statement.
‘Alexander Maersk’ attracted media attention in June, when it rescued 113 migrants from a boat off south Italy.
