Sistership Of Infamous Vessel That Hit Baltimore Bridge Faces Engine Issues In Pacific

The container ship Maersk Saltoro, the sister ship of the vessel that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, has come across engine troubles in the Pacific.

The vessel operates under the management of Synergy Marine and is chartered by Maersk.

It has encountered an engine malfunction that is delaying the timely delivery of its perishable cargo of Chilean cherries bound for China. There are a total of 1,300 containers of cherries onboard.

The Maersk Saltoro left Chile on December 27, 2024, and was scheduled to arrive in China on January 19, 2025, with unloading time in hand before the Chinese New Year holiday on January 29.

However, on January 13, 2025, the vessel reported a technical problem with its main engine while en route from San Antonio, Chile to Nansha New Port in China.

Per Maersk, the ship is undergoing repairs to resume its journey. The company also confirmed it is in contact with the ship’s owner to track the repair status.

The vessel is one of 25 container ships involved in the Chilean cherry export season and is part of the shipping line’s Cherry Express route, designed to ensure timely delivery of the fruit to China.

This year, Chile has reported a record-breaking 17,000 containers of cherries being shipped.

The engine issues on the Maersk Saltoro are a concern in the Chilean fruit export sector, due to the importance of timely delivery to maintain the quality and meet the requirements of the Chinese market.

Maersk has assured the shippers that it is ready to help in filing claims if needed.

The Maersk Saltoro, built-in 2015 by Hyundai in South Korea, has a capacity of 9,971 TEU and is registered under the flag of Singapore, much like its sister ship, the Dali.

The Dali, which hit the Baltimore Bridge after suffering power loss caused it to collapse, killing six construction workers on 26 March 2024.

Video Credits: NTSB/YouTube

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report in May 2024, revealing that the ship’s generator malfunction led to a blackout 10 hours before departing Baltimore.

The ship lost power again just before the collision, causing the rudder to become stuck leaving the vessel adrift, and hitting the bridge.

Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine Group, the owners and managers of the Dali, filed a joint petition in the U.S. District Court in April 2024, to limit their liability under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851.

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore also filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the financial losses caused by the bridge collapse. While the Dali was undergoing repairs in the U.S. and China, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil claim for damages, seeking about $102 million.

The first phase of the trial is set to begin in June 2026, followed by a second phase to assess the value of the claims related to the accident.

The Dali, built in 2015, weighs 116,851 dwt. It underwent repairs at the Fujian Hudong Shipyard in China.

The vessel required extensive work to fix the damage to the bow, forward section, and machinery along with repairs to the cargo hold, hydraulic systems, and electrical control systems.

The repairs were completed ahead of schedule and the vessel has now returned to service.

Earlier in September 2024, the Maersk Saltoro made a port call in Baltimore, less than six months after the Dali incident. During its visit, federal investigators from the U.S. Coast Guard, the FBI, and the EPA boarded the ship, to find if there were any similar issues.

The full details of the investigation have not been revealed by the authorities.

In the past, the Maersk Saltoro underwent a Port State inspection in Chile on December 20, 2024, and received a clean report.

The ship experienced issues with its radar during an inspection in Norfolk, Virginia. Despite this, the ship has not been detained and has a history of 14 inspections.

The vessel is still undergoing repairs in Micronesia’s exclusive economic zone. It is not clear when the vessel will arrive in China.

Reference: Full Avante News

Source: Maritime Shipping News