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Another Maersk ship catches fire in cargo hold

The 5,616-TEU Maersk Kensington reported a fire Thursday in a cargo hold, but the cause of the fire is still unknown.

   The 5,616-TEU Maersk Kensington reported a fire in a cargo hold on Thursday at 20:50 EST while en route from Salalah, Oman towards Suez, Maersk Line revealed Friday.
   All 26 crew members are safe and accounted for, and the fire has been contained.
   The Maersk Kensington is at anchor outside the Port of Salalah and is getting assistance from shore.
   The vessel is carrying 3,518 containers, which equates to 5,616 TEUs. Maersk said all impacted customers will be contacted directly.
   The cause aboard the Maersk Kensington is currently unknown. However, Maersk said initial investigations indicate there is no link between the cargo in the cargo hold where the fire began on Maersk Kensington and the cargo in the cargo hold which caught fire on Maersk Honam March 6.
   The Maersk Kensington was built in 2007 and sails under the U.S.-flag.
   BlueWater Reporting shows the Maersk Kensington operates on Maersk Line’s MECL loop. The MECL operates will 11 vessels averaging 6,431 TEUs and a rotation of Savannah, Houston, Norfolk, Newark, Algeciras, Port Said, Djibouti, Salalah, Dubai, Port Qasim, Pipavav, Mumbai, Salalah, Algeciras, Newark, Charleston and Savannah.