W-Kampala Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On April 15, 2026, at around 4:20 p.m., a notable maritime incident occurred in Bremerhaven when the bunker tanker 'RLO Merchant' (IMO: 9305350) collided with two container vessels, the 'W. Kampala' and the 'Vilnia Maersk' (IMO: 9778533), while they were docked at Strom Quay. The tanker was attempting to approach the 'Vilnia Maersk' for refueling amid challenging currents, but the maneuver resulted in significant damage to both container ships. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or pollution resulting from the incident. The local water police have documented the event and imposed a sailing restriction on the 'RLO Merchant', which sustained damage on its port side. Subsequently, an administrative investigation has been launched against the vessel's captain, aged 50. As the investigation continues, the 'W. Kampala' successfully departed for Antwerp the same day, with an estimated arrival on April 17, while the 'Vilnia Maersk' is headed to Klaipeda, expecting to arrive on April 18. For further details and photographs, visit the following link: https://www.kreiszeitung-wesermarsch.de/region/tankschiff-rammt-zwei-frachter-an-der-stromkaje-hoher-schaden-366370.html

4 September 2013 – In a recent press release from Maersk, it has been confirmed that fire-fighting crews aboard the Maersk Kampala have successfully extinguished the blaze that affected the vessel. Although some smoke persists from specific containers that were previously engulfed in flames, this is expected to dissipate with ongoing efforts from tugboats and dedicated firefighting teams. Moving forward, Maersk's operational strategy will concentrate on selecting an appropriate port, planning contingencies for the affected cargo, and outlining the steps necessary for the vessel’s return to operational status.

On the morning of September 2, firefighters successfully contained the blaze aboard the Maersk Kampala, reducing the number of burning containers to just six. The crew was actively engaged in opening the affected containers to extinguish the remaining flames. Prior to this, severe weather conditions near Suez hampered firefighting efforts until noon on August 31. This inclement weather, coupled with a mechanical failure in a tugboat, delayed the arrival of firefighting vessels, allowing the fire—initially ignited in a lower stack container—to spread to several containers in the ship's front rows. Fortunately, as conditions improved between August 31 and September 1, vessels equipped with water cannons were finally able to target the flames and prevent further escalation. For more details and photographs, visit: http://gcaptain.com/maersk-kampala-fire-is-out/

Military sources from Egypt have reported a significant escalation of the fire aboard the 'Maersk Kampala.' The blaze has engulfed over 1,000 tons of cargo, compromising approximately 4,000 containers on the vessel. Preliminary assessments indicate that numerous containers have sustained serious damage or have been entirely destroyed. Since the afternoon of August 30, Maersk Line has not released any updates regarding the situation. Furthermore, the ship has been without an AIS signal for an extended period, raising concerns about its safety and status.