A US Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter medevaced a crewmember from the boxship Laura Maersk, which was located about 275 miles off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland.
The vessel experienced an explosion in the engine room, which injured one crwmember and resulted to loss of power.
Following the injury, aircrews aboard an MH-60 helicopter and an HC-130 out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina launched to medevac the injured crewmember. Due to the extreme range, USCG Fifth District and Fleet Forces Command arranged for the helicopter land on the destroyer USS Mahan and refuel during the transit.
The helicopter that arrived on the scene, hoisted the injured man and transported him to Norfolk Sentara General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the meantime, the shipping line issued a statement informing that the Laura Maersk experienced an explosion and “minor fire” in its engine room on June 4. The vessel had departed from Algeciras, sailing to PNYNJ at the time of the incident. The company highlighted that the crewmember’s injuries were not life threatening.
See below how to deal with an engine room fire
