Working Conditions Aboard the Maersk-Tukang

The US Coast Guard has officially halted the search for a missing crew member following an unfortunate incident on October 28. The individual, identified as 70-year-old Mr. Joe Williams from the greater Savannah area, disappeared after falling into the water while attempting to cross the gangway to the 'Maersk Tukang' at the port of Savannah. The Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the alert around 3 a.m. from the Georgia Port Authority, reporting that a man had fallen and failed to resurface. In the search efforts, the Coast Guard deployed several key assets, including an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Savannah and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small team from Station Tybee Island. Additionally, partner agencies such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Savannah Fire and Rescue, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and Garden City Fire and Rescue contributed to the operation. The 'Maersk Tukang' departed from Savannah around 7:15 p.m. and is expected to arrive in Miami by October 30.

On October 27, 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation for a 70-year-old man who reportedly fell overboard from the 'Maersk Tukan' while docked at the Port of Savannah. The Coast Guard Sector Charleston received an alert at approximately 3 a.m. from the Georgia Port Authority about the incident. Responding swiftly, the Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Savannah and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Tybee Island to assist in the search efforts. Additionally, teams from the Department of Natural Resources, Savannah Fire and Rescue, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and Garden City Fire and Rescue joined the extensive operation to locate the missing individual.

In a significant move towards cleaner shipping practices, Belco Technologies has collaborated with the Maersk Group to conduct a successful pilot installation of a state-of-the-art Belco scrubber on board the impressive 8,112 TEU containership, Maersk Tukang. This innovative equipment underwent a thorough six-day testing period in May, during which the vessel journeyed from Algeciras, Spain, to Genoa, Italy. A dedicated team comprising representatives from Belco and Maersk, alongside a surveyor from the American Bureau of Shipping, was present to meticulously observe the entire testing process as the scrubber awaits its class certification, anticipated later in the year. Originally installed in 2013 at a scheduled drydock in Qingdao, China, the scrubber is designed to effectively eliminate sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter from the exhaust emissions of a 3.2 MW auxiliary engine. The open loop testing phase successfully demonstrated compliance with MARPOL Annex IV regulations, meeting all necessary air and washwater emission criteria. Looking ahead, the closed loop testing is slated for early autumn, paving the way for enhanced maritime environmental standards.