On November 7th, a shocking maritime accident occurred at the port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia—the container ship "Kyparissia," operated by Maersk Line, suffered an explosion and fire during unloading operations, resulting in the tragic deaths of three people.

The vessel, owned by Greek shipowner Costamare Shipping, was built in 2014 and has a capacity of approximately 4,957 TEU. It was chartered to Maersk for long-term operation. The "Kyparissia" was reportedly deployed on Maersk's Far East-West Africa (FEWAF) service, connecting major hub ports in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

According to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama, the fire originated in the lower deck of the fifth cargo hold, where a sudden explosion occurred during loading and unloading operations. The fire spread rapidly and was extinguished several hours later by port firefighters and crew.

Following the accident, the port immediately evacuated all personnel and suspended berthing and loading/unloading operations for the day to ensure the smooth progress of safety assessments and residual fire control.

Preliminary analysis indicates that the accident may have been caused by spontaneous combustion of cargo or a short circuit in the electrical wiring. An investigation team composed of the Malaysian Maritime Department, Maersk's safety department, and insurance technical consultants is currently taking samples from the ship's electrical system and the affected container for testing.

Maersk stated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation and has provided emergency assistance and psychological support to the families of the victims.

This fire incident has once again brought global shipping safety to the forefront of public attention. Hanyue International always prioritizes the safety and timely delivery of our clients' cargo. In the face of unforeseen events and uncertainties, we have established a multi-layered safety monitoring and emergency coordination mechanism to ensure that our clients' cargo receives timely response and professional support at any port and on any shipping route worldwide. For the latest information or customized solutions, please contact our customer service team.