Working Conditions Aboard the Maersk-Halifax

In a pioneering achievement for the maritime sector, Maersk has successfully converted the 'Maersk Halifax' into the world's first large vessel equipped with dual-fuel methanol propulsion. This remarkable transformation took place over a swift 88-day period at the Zhoushan Xinya shipyard, culminating on November 3, 2024. This groundbreaking conversion underscores Maersk's commitment to enhancing sustainability in shipping and advancing the adoption of low-emission fuels. The endeavor involved a comprehensive engine adaptation by renowned German manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions, along with the addition of new fuel tanks, a dedicated fuel processing room, and an advanced fuel supply system. Notably, the hull of the 'Maersk Halifax' was extended by 15 meters to accommodate the new equipment, boosting its capacity from approximately 15,000 to 15,690 TEU. Following rigorous sea trials, the ship has successfully resumed its operations within the transpacific trade route. This initiative is a crucial element of Maersk's ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

A.P. Moller – Maersk, the parent organization of the premier global shipping company, has recently addressed the conclusions of the comprehensive investigation into the tragic fire that broke out aboard the 'Maersk Honam' on March 6, 2018. This incident, noted as one of the most severe disasters in both the company's history and the larger container shipping sector, occurred while the vessel was navigating the Arabian Sea en route to the Suez Canal. At the time, the 'Maersk Honam', which has since been renamed 'Maersk Halifax', was carrying an extensive load of 7,860 containers, equating to 12,416 twenty-foot equivalent units. Despite the activation of the ship's CO2 firefighting system in the cargo hold, the blaze escalated rapidly over the course of a week, engulfing the entire bow from the superstructure forward. Tragically, five crew members lost their lives in this incident. Following the fire, the vessel was ultimately towed to Jebel Ali for salvage operations. It underwent dismantling and was subsequently transported to South Korea, where it was rebuilt and re-entered service in August 2019 under its new name, 'Maersk Halifax'. The investigation, spearheaded by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of Singapore—where the vessel was registered—uncovered that the likely ignition point of the fire was within a block of 54 containers containing IMO Class 9 Dangerous Cargo stowed in cargo hold number three at the vessel's forepart. While investigators could not definitively determine the fire's cause, they strongly suggested that it may have originated from the decomposition of hazardous materials which generated excessive heat, leading to the rapid spread of the flames. In response to this catastrophic incident, Maersk has implemented updated protocols for the stowage of dangerous goods across its fleet. The TSIB report, released on October 6, 2020, included a total of nine safety recommendations, of which five were directed at Maersk and four at the flag state.

The former 'Maersk Honam,' now renamed 'Maersk Halifax,' embarked on its inaugural journey from Qingdao on August 7 at 2:30 PM following extensive repairs. The vessel's burnt foreship, which has been dismantled at Umm Al Quwain, was replaced with a new structure. As the 'Maersk Halifax' heads towards Busan, South Korea, Maersk Shipping can finally close a daunting chapter that began on March 6, 2018. On that fateful day, a devastating fire erupted aboard the 15,262 TEU vessel, located 900 miles southeast of Salalah in Oman, while en route from Singapore to the Suez Canal. Tragically, four crew members lost their lives during the blaze, with one additional casualty occurring later due to injuries sustained during the incident. After a month-long firefighting operation, the stricken ship was towed to Jebel Ali where both charred and undamaged containers were offloaded. Maersk opted for repairs on the vessel, recognized as one of the newest in its fleet, having been constructed in 2017. The repair costs soared beyond DKK 30 million, while the total financial impact, which included the value of the destroyed containers, reached an estimated DKK 500 million—over $3 billion. The restoration work was assigned to Hyundai Heavy Industries, which received the vessel’s undamaged aft after a month-long transport via a heavylift vessel from Cosco in March. The 'Maersk Halifax' has now rejoined operations, standing strong among the 11 H-class ships within Maersk’s fleet. After departing Busan on August 10 at 4:00 AM, the ship docked at Yangshan Anchorage on August 12 at 1:30 AM, precisely at coordinates 30° 27.31' N 122° 43.49' E.