Massive Containership Suffers Engine Failure Off Iceland

A containership operated by Icelandic shipping company Eimskip is currently drifting in the North Atlantic after suffering a main engine failure.

The vessel, named Dettifoss, broke down on July 9 while sailing from Reykjavík to Nuuk in Greenland. At the time of the incident, the ship was around 390 miles southwest of Iceland.

According to the company, the weather conditions in the area are calm and there is no immediate danger to the crew or the vessel. The Icelandic Coast Guard has sent its vessel Freyja to assist. Freyja was expected to reach Dettifoss by the evening of July 11 and tow the vessel back to Reykjavík for repairs.

Eimskip said the ship is carrying cargo meant for Greenland, and customers will be informed about the situation. The company added that once Dettifoss arrives in Reykjavík, repairs are expected to be carried out quickly, and the ship is likely to resume its regular schedule next week.

Dettifoss, which flies the flag of the Faroe Islands, is one of Eimskip’s newest and largest vessels. It was built in China and delivered in 2020. The ship is 180 meters long (about 590 feet), with a capacity of 2,150 TEU.

It has a deadweight tonnage of 25,690 dwt and is equipped for North Atlantic operations, including ice-class certification and compliance with the Polar Code, which is required for sailing near Greenland.

The vessel’s main engine delivers 17,000 kW (approximately 23,000 horsepower) and meets Tier III emission standards. It is also fitted with a scrubber system to reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions and is designed to lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, making it more environmentally friendly.

Dettifoss operates under a joint service between Eimskip and Greenland’s shipping company Royal Arctic Line. Its route includes ports in Aarhus and Helsingborg in Denmark, Bremerhaven in Germany, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland.

The coast guard vessel Freyja, which is responding to the emergency, has been involved in several similar operations in the past. In 2023, it assisted a containership that lost power and began drifting toward the shore. That same year, it helped a cargo ship named Wilson Skaw (6,460 dwt) that had grounded northwest of Iceland during rough weather.

In 2022, Freyja responded to an explosion and fire on board EF Ava (8,168 dwt), which was under charter to Eimskip at the time. In 2020, another Eimskip vessel, Lagarfoss (11,800 dwt), also had engine issues and was towed to safety by Freyja in winter conditions.

Eimskip, headquartered in Reykjavík, provides transportation services across the North Atlantic with a focus on container and reefer shipping. The company also offers international freight forwarding and is especially known for handling frozen and chilled goods.

Reference: eimskip

Source: Maritime Shipping News