Maersk containership nearly runs aground off Alaska

The Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Coast Guard station and Alaskan Department of Environmental Conservation towed the disabled Laura Maersk to safety after the vessel lost power over the weekend.    The U.S. Coast Guard and Alaskan Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) towed a disabled Maersk Line containership to safety over the weekend, according to a DEC situation report.
   The 4,258-TEU Laura Maersk reportedly lost power while sailing north of Akutan Island in Alaska’s Aleutian island chain, almost running aground. The vessel was carrying containers and an estimated 51,000 gallons of oil and diesel, according to the DEC situation report. There are no reported leaks or spills from the vessel.
   Initial reports indicated that there was a fire in the engine room that caused the ship to lose power. However, newer reports state there was no fire and the cause of the loss of power is unknown, said the DEC.
   According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the Laura Maersk is deployed on the 2M Alliance’s TP9/Maple Service between Asia and the West Coast of North America. The port rotation for the TP9 is currently Nansha, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Prince Rupert BC, Vancouver BC, Busan and back to Nansha.