Discover the Lica-Maersk: Ratings & Maritime News

On August 3, 2019, the container ship Lica Maersk, while navigating from Hamburg to Cartagena, faced a technical issue with a leaking fuel valve. The incident occurred approximately 36 miles away from Lizard Point, specifically at the coordinates 49° 25' 24" N, 005° 17' 00" W, at 6:30 a.m. Local time. The vessel, with a crew of 25, halted its journey to address the situation. After successful repairs carried out by the crew, the Lica Maersk was back on its course by 7:50 a.m.

In a serious incident dating back to January 2014, Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) has faced legal repercussions resulting in a fine of $55,000 alongside a $25,000 reparation payment to a stevedore injured during cargo operations. The fine was levied after POAL pleaded guilty to a charge from Maritime New Zealand regarding their negligence in upholding safety standards mandated by the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. The ruling was handed down by the Auckland District Court on March 20, 2015. The injury occurred when the stevedore attempted to dislodge a twist-lock that had become stuck atop a two-high container stack on the 'Lica Maersk'. Utilizing a five-meter unlocking pole, he faced an unexpected fall of 15 meters into the water, during which he struck a crane beam and then the wharf. This narrow workspace complicated his rescue, leaving him in the water for about 15 minutes. The fall resulted in a multitude of severe injuries, including the breaking of both legs, three fractured vertebrae, 10 fractured ribs, and damage to his lung and hand. Following the accident, the worker was hospitalized for three months and was deemed unlikely to return to his role as a stevedore due to the extent of his injuries. The investigation by Maritime New Zealand revealed critical safety lapses: no safety railing was present in the work area due to obstruction from container lashing equipment. Although POAL management had recognized the risks associated with using unlocking poles for twist-locks in mid-2013, they failed to communicate necessary precautions to their workforce. Furthermore, the company did not provide adequate training regarding health and safety procedures related to ship inspections, nor did they effectively oversee their staff to identify and mitigate unsafe work practices.