Maersk-Elba

The 'Maersk Elba' was taken on tow by the offshore tug 'VB Hispania' (IMO: 9476018) in the afternoon of Dec 29, to be towed to Algeciras for repairs of the engine room after the fire on Dec 26 which couldn’t be carried out by the crew. The convoy was expected at a repair yard in Algeciras on Dec 31 at 9 a.m.

The 'Maersk Elba' remained anchored off the coast of Portugal as of Dec 28. A ship from the Lagos Maritime Police Local Command and the NRP 'Cassiopeia' from the Portuguese Navy were sent to monitor the situation. The vessel's owner has been contacted. The tugs 'Castelo De Sao Jorge' and 'VB Hispania' were mobilized and on scene as of Dec 28. The sea pollution control team based in the South Maritime Department, belonging to the National Maritime Authority, was activated and was on standby if necessary, to act. The captain of the Port of Lagos coordinated the respnse, along with the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.

The 'Maersk Elba' suffered a fire in the engine room off southern Portugal in the morning of Dec 26, 2020, being en route from Colombo via Sri Lanka to Felixstowe and contacted the RCC in Lisbon. The ship was disabled due to the fire 20 miles off the Portuguese coast. It was anchored off Sagres in pos. 36° 59.39' N 008° 53.51' W. on Dec 27. The tug ''Castelo De Sao Jorge' (IMO: 9319179) went on standby while the crew was working on repairs.