Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Maersk-Batam

In a dramatic rescue operation on the night of March 23, 2020, the US Coast Guard successfully medevaced the British captain of the container ship 'Maersk Batam' about 100 miles south of Puerto Rico. The captain displayed life-threatening symptoms indicative of a possible stroke while the vessel was en route from St. Marta, Colombia, to its next destination, Southampton, England. Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a medevac request at 9:55 a.m. as the ship was navigating 175 nautical miles southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Reacting swiftly, Coast Guard watchstanders dispatched a MH-65D Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Borinquen to execute the rescue, while also redirecting the Coast Guard Cutter 'Thetis' (WMEC-910) to meet the 'Maersk Batam' and act as an emergency platform if needed. Throughout the operation, coordination was maintained with Customs and Border Protection, as well as U.S. Virgin Islands authorities. The crew of the 'Maersk Batam' confirmed that the captain’s condition was unrelated to COVID-19. Upon arrival, the helicopter’s rescue swimmer assessed the captain's condition, leading to the deployment of a rescue litter to hoist him onboard. After the successful extraction, the captain was flown to Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he was promptly met by emergency medical services and transported to the Royal Lester Schneider Regional Hospital for further treatment.

The maritime vessel 'Maersk Batam,' which was initially detained on May 11, gained attention after authorities discovered a stash of cocaine concealed within a container of bananas. Following its detention, the ship was relocated from Izmit port to the bustling Ambarli container terminal in Istanbul on May 14. On May 17, the vessel set sail from Ambarli, ultimately anchoring off the coast of Marmara at 7 p.m. The crew, comprised of 25 members hailing from various nationalities including Filipino, Indian, Thai, Russian, and Ukrainian backgrounds, faced significant scrutiny. Notably, the Ukrainian Master and the Russian Chief Engineer were taken into custody during the investigation. After several days in detention, the Chief Engineer has since been released, while there has been no update regarding the status of the other detained crew members.

In a significant drug interception, authorities have uncovered 293 kilos of cocaine concealed within a container of bananas aboard the 'Maersk Batam'. The vessel arrived at Izmit on May 11, 2017, but was put under tight control while navigating the Dardanelles Strait. Turkish anti-drug agencies had received advance intelligence and were prepared for the ship's arrival in Turkish waters. A thorough search was conducted, which involved scanning 122 containers with X-ray equipment, followed by inspections using trained canine units. Originally en route from Malta to Izmit, the ship’s departure has been rescheduled to May 14, pushing back the expected timeline from May 11 or 12. During the operation, the Master and Chief Engineer of the vessel were taken into custody for further questioning as part of the ongoing investigation. Notably, the 'Maersk Batam' had made previous stops in Central America, notably in Colombia and Panama, before heading to European waters.