On Thursday, 16 March 2018 at 20:50 EST, the Maersk Kensington, a vessel owned and operated by Maersk U.S. subsidiary Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), reported a container on fire in a cargo hold while en route from Salalah, Oman, towards Suez. All 26 crew members are safe and accounted for and the fire is reported to be contained.

Fire in container underdeck aboard container ship Maersk Kensington. All crew safe; Fire contained
Caption: Containership Maersk Kensington - Image courtesy of Manuel Hernandez

Safety measures were taken immediately. The crew reacted swiftly and as per procedure, by release of CO2 into the cargo hold to contain the fire.

The cause of the container fire is currently unknown. However, initial investigation indicate there is no link between the cargo in the cargo hold where the fire began on Maersk Kensington and the cargo in the cargo hold which caught fire on Maersk Honam on 6 March 2018. MLL, in coordination with Maersk Line, will investigate the matter thoroughly in cooperation with all relevant authorities.

The vessel is carrying 3518 containers (corresponding to 5616 TEU). In case of cargo delays all impacted customers will be contacted directly.

Maersk Kensington was built in 2007. It has a nominal capacity of 6188 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), and sails under U.S. flag.

Source: Maersk