Marie Maersk Fire Contained Off Liberia; Intensified Efforts Underway

The vessel’s crew successfully contained a fire that erupted on the Maersk container ship Marie Maersk off the coast of Liberia on August 13, 2025. The blaze, which began in containers while the vessel was en route from Rotterdam to Malaysia, has not spread further thanks to the crew’s diligent efforts. The vessel remains stable, with all operational systems functioning, and the crew is safe. Firefighting operations are expected to intensify as external support arrives.

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Fire Contained, Crew Safe (Maersk Marie)

The crew of the Marie Maersk detected smoke emanating from containers on the morning of Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The ship, a Danish-flagged vessel built in 2013 with a capacity of 19,076 TEU, was traveling from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia. Over the weekend, the crew’s firefighting actions prevented the fire from spreading.

• Crew Safety: All crew members onboard are reported to be safe.
• Vessel Stability: The Marie Maersk remains stable, with all machinery, steering, and navigational systems fully operational.

Intensified Firefighting Efforts

External assistance has been crucial in supporting the crew’s containment efforts. In recent days, three tugboats and one offshore supply vessel equipped with firefighting systems have reached the Marie Maersk. These assets are bolstering the ongoing operations, and plans are to intensify firefighting further once external teams can board the vessel.

Diversion to Port of Refuge

Maersk has confirmed that the vessel will be diverted to a port of refuge to secure landside support as quickly as possible. The specific port is still under consideration. The company’s expert Crisis Response Team is in constant communication with the crew and provides all necessary support.

Cargo Impact Under Investigation

Due to the prevailing conditions within the affected cargo bays, Maersk has stated that it is too early to confirm the exact impact of the fire on the cargo. Investigations into the contents of the affected containers will commence once the fire has been fully extinguished.

Industry Context

This incident adds to a growing concern regarding container vessel fires in recent years, highlighting the ongoing safety challenges within the shipping industry as vessels continue to increase in size and capacity.

Sources

• Crew prevents fire from spreading on board Marie Maersk ‣ WorldCargo News, WorldCargo News.
• Fire Contained on Maersk Triple-E Vessel Off African Coast as Firefighting Efforts Intensify, gCaptain.
• Maersk contains fire onboard Marie Maersk vessel off Liberia; intensifies firefighting efforts, Yahoo! Maktoob News.
• Maersk contains fire onboard Marie Maersk vessel off Liberia; intensifies firefighting efforts |
  MarketScreener, MarketScreener.
• Maersk Contains Fire Onboard Marie Maersk Vessel Off, Marine News Magazine.