On the evening of August 5, the container ship Maersk Gironde and the car carrier SFL Composer collided while sailing in the busy waters of the Denmark Strait. The Danish Maritime Authority reported that both vessels have been detained for further inspection and investigation into the cause of the accident.
The collision occurred at midnight in the Denmark Strait near the island of Funen on Denmark’s east coast. At the time, the two vessels were sailing in a deep-water channel leading to the busy shipping lanes of the Baltic Sea.
Danish authorities reported that both vessels suffered “significant damage” above the waterline, but did not report any casualties or pollution.
According to Danish media reports, the car carrier SFL Composer suffered a large scratch on its side about three-quarters of the way down the stern, with significant dents and holes at the stern. The container ship Maersk Gironde also suffered damage to its bow.
The Maersk Gironde was built in 2002 and operates on the North European route. The ship has a deadweight tonnage of 61,600 tons and a capacity of 4,800 TEU. It is currently sailing from Wilhelmshaven, Germany, to Gdansk, Poland. Maersk reports that the vessel is currently anchored and awaiting approval to continue its voyage.
The SFL Composer was built in 2006 and has a capacity of 6,500 vehicles. SFL reports that the vessel is currently leased to Volkswagen for operation. Photos show the vessel being assisted by two Svitzer tugboats and being towed to the port of Aarhus.
The Danish Maritime Authority has not commented on the specific circumstances or weather conditions at the time of the accident.