Discover the Cma-Cgm-Shanghai: Ratings & Maritime News

On February 25, 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed findings from an investigation into an incident involving the cargo vessel 'President Eisenhower', currently known as the 'CMA CGM Shanghai'. The mishap occurred on February 6, 2024, approximately 94 miles off the coast of Oakland, California, as the vessel awaited berth assignment. This unfortunate event culminated in the loss of 23 containers, with damage to an additional 10, amounting to a financial setback exceeding $735,000. Operating on its usual route linking Southeast Asia with the U.S. West Coast, the vessel had undergone regular inspections that showed no significant issues. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when it began to drift. At around 9:35 p.m., crew members observed what they initially believed to be smoke emerging from the port side, which was later identified as powder from collapsed containers in bay 42. A thorough investigation by the NTSB pinpointed the root cause to a significant data entry error during the cargo booking process. A booking agent had incorrectly recorded the weights of 39 containers, entering figures of just 2,500 kilograms (5,511 pounds), while the actual weights ranged from 24.5 to 28.6 metric tons (54,000-63,000 lbs). This misrepresentation led to the inclusion of erroneous Verified Gross Mass (VGM) data on the cargo loading plan, resulting in an unstable stacking arrangement — heavier containers placed atop lighter ones — which compromised the vessel's balance. The combination of this unsafe configuration and the vessel’s rolling motion, peaking at 18 degrees amidst worsening weather, led to the failure of securing equipment. The operating company confirmed that adherence to proper loading practices could have prevented the incident. In light of these events, the booking agent has since adopted enhanced safety protocols, which now include automatic VGM capture from original bookings and the mandatory verification of reported VGMs below 10 metric tons. For further details, the full investigation report is available at the NTSB’s website: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2506.pdf.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its investigation results concerning the engine room fire aboard the 'President Eisenhower,' which occurred off the California coast on April 27, 2021. The incident was traced back to a loose compression fitting in the fuel oil return line of the main engine. This fitting was recently installed by the vessel's second engineer after a previous section developed a pinhole leak on April 26. On the evening of the incident, the 'President Eisenhower' set sail from the Port of Los Angeles en route to Oakland, passing through the Santa Barbara Channel. After completing a routine walkaround post-engine ramp-up, the engineering team felt confident and left the engine room at 12:53 a.m. Just over an hour later, at 01:54 a.m., an Able Seaman spotted smoke rising from an engine room hatch, triggering an alarm. Upon checking the CCTV monitor, the captain and third mate confirmed the presence of an active fire. In response, the crew acted quickly, deactivating ventilation systems, shutting fuel supply valves, transitioning to the emergency generator, and outfitting firefighting teams. An initial firefighting attempt with a hose revealed that the blaze was too extensive to handle, prompting the crew to retreat. The captain then ordered all ventilation hatches to be sealed, activating the CO2 fire suppression system by approximately 02:23 a.m. Following the discharge of CO2, the crew allowed the affected areas to cool down throughout the morning to prevent re-ignition. The fire incapacitated the ship's propulsion system, leading to the 'President Eisenhower' drifting closer to the shoreline. A tugboat arrived around 2 p.m. to assist in moving the disabled vessel further from land, where it came within 3.5 miles of the coast. A marine firefighting team boarded the vessel to ensure the fire was fully extinguished before the ship was towed back to the Port of Los Angeles for necessary repairs. Investigations revealed that the compression fitting had completely detached, causing a diesel spray that ignited after contacting an uninsulated exhaust system component. Surveillance footage indicated that this leakage began approximately 30 minutes prior to the fire outbreak. The NTSB's findings emphasized that the improper installation of the compression fitting and the lack of insulation on the exhaust component were central to the fire's inception. Furthermore, the board noted that a rapid oil leak detection system could have potentially averted the incident by providing an early alarm of the fuel spray before ignition occurred.

In the early hours of April 28, 2021, at approximately 3 a.m., the container ship 'President Eisenhower' experienced a significant engine room fire shortly after its departure from the Port of Los Angeles, destined for Oakland. This alarming incident left the vessel immobilized and drifting about 24 nautical miles off the Gaviota Coast. The U.S. Coast Guard quickly sprang into action, deploying a helicopter, a small response boat, and the cutter 'Blacktip' from Ventura to aid the crew in combating the blaze. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among those aboard. The ship was steering northward, moving away from the protected Channel Islands and their adjacent marine sanctuary. In a move to secure the situation, the tug 'Ryan I' (MMSI: 367104050) was summoned for additional support. By April 29, multiple tugs, including 'Delta Billie' (IMO: 9562207), 'Elizabeth C' (IMO: 7517478), 'Shirley C' (IMO: 7114288), and 'Teresa Brusco' (MMSI: 368019930), were working to tow the disabled vessel toward Santa Barbara at a cautious speed of under three knots. This incident highlights the importance of maritime safety and rapid response in emergency situations.