A MAERSK-chartered containership has resumed its voyage after suffering an apparent main engine failure when sailing from Melbourne yesterday morning.
The 1770 TEU Oslo Trader departed East Swanson Dock shortly after 0900 25 June but broke down just as it was entering the River Yarra. Fortunately two tugs were still assisting and were able to assist the Port Phillip Sea Pilot to safely re-berth the 2019-built, Panama-flag vessel at East Swanson at 0950.
An AMSA spokesperson confirmed the situation:
“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is aware that at around 9:15am this morning (AEST), the engine of Panamanian-flagged vessel Oslo Trader failed to start shortly after departure from the berth at Swanson Dock at the Port of Melbourne.
“Tugs were in attendance at the time and the vessel was safely taken back alongside the berth.
“AMSA has not detained the vessel at this time, but investigations into the cause of the engine failure are still underway.”
Oslo Trader departed again this morning for Auckland at 0645 without incident. At time of writing it was heading east in Bass Strait at 18 knots, according to AIS.
The ship has only recently replaced Nicolai Maersk on the company’s Polaris trans-Tasman/NZ coastal service, on which other changes are taking place with the 1762 TEU AS Sabine returning from drydock to replace sister AS Simone, and the 2470 TEU JPO Aquarius coming in August to take over from the 1774 TEU Nordmaas (sister to Oslo Trader).
