The containership Maersk Saltoro, a sister vessel to the one involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident, experienced engine issues while navigating the Pacific.
The vessel reportedly carrying 1,300 containers of Chilean cherries bound for China, departed from Chile on 27 December 2024, and was expected to arrive in China on 19 January 2025 to unload before the Chinese New Year holiday. However, on 13 January the ship reported a technical problem in its main engine while en route from San Antonio, Chile to Nansha New Port in China.
According to Maersk, the vessel is currently undergoing repairs to resume its journey and is in contact with the ship’s owner to monitor the repair status.
The engine issue poses a concern for the Chilean fruit export industry because of the importance of timely delivery to maintain product quality and meeting the demands of the Chinese market.
As reported, Maersk has reassured shippers that they will assist with claims if necessary.
