Reviews & Ratings for the Manila-Maersk

On July 28, 2023, at 8 a.m. UTC, the 'Freya', carrying four crew members, issued a Mayday call after losing its steering in challenging weather conditions. This distress situation occurred at coordinates 12° 45' 07.2" N, 054° 18' 18.6" E, roughly eight nautical miles northeast of Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea. Responding to the emergency, the 'Manila Maersk' and 'Munkebo Maersk' swiftly moved to assist the disabled vessel, which requested towing support to reach a safe location for necessary repairs. The initial response by the 'Manila Maersk' included providing a lee for the 'Freya', lasting until 1:45 p.m. Later, attempts were made to engage local Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) to take over the rescue coordination. Despite efforts from the UKMRCC to reach out to authorities in Yemen, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, communication proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) enlisted the support of various nearby vessels, including a South Korean warship and a Yemeni warship, as well as the 'Kmax Emperor'. Unfortunately, these vessels were unable to assist immediately due to their distance—27 nautical miles away and traveling at five knots due to adverse weather. As the situation progressed, the 'Munkebo Maersk' (IMO: 9632117) maintained its position on site, continuing to provide a protective lee until 9:30 p.m. UTC on the same day. Ultimately, the 'Freya' was safely towed by a local dhow towards Socotra at a speed of three knots, marking a successful resolution to the emergency.