According to a report from the Malaysian National Fire and Rescue Department, a container ship, the “Kyparissia”, owned and managed by Costamare and chartered by Maersk, caught fire at around noon local time on November 7th at Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) in Malaysia, resulting in 3 deaths and 3 injuries. The fire was initially extinguished by port fireboats, and subsequently, teams from the Malaysian National Fire and Rescue Department joined the rescue efforts.
The fire on the “Kyparissia” has been confirmed by a Maersk spokesperson, who stated that the fire occurred during unloading and was followed by an explosion. The fire reportedly spread to cargo hold number 5 below deck.
The ship involved, “Kyparissia”, has a maximum container capacity of 4,957 TEU and a deadweight tonnage of 70,461 tons. It flies the Maltese flag and its main service routes cover the ports of Onne in Nigeria, Cotonou in Benin, and Singapore.
Maersk has confirmed that the accident has resulted in three deaths, including one crew member. Malaysian officials have identified the three victims as Malaysian, Filipino, and British. Three others were injured and hospitalized, including one Malaysian and two Filipinos.
According to Maersk’s statement: “The full extent of the fire’s impact on the vessel and cargo is not yet known. The company is working closely with the PTP, relevant authorities, the shipowner, and the ship’s management to manage the situation and will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.”
It is worth mentioning that the fire at Tanjung Pelepas Port in Malaysia and the fire on another Maersk container ship in the United States have once again highlighted the dangers of cargo hold fires after several cargo hold fires this year.
The report states that the Maersk container ship “Laust Maersk” is currently anchored off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, USA, due to smoke emanating from its cargo hold. The ship reported the smoke while en route from Charleston to Cartagena, Colombia.
The Laust Maersk is currently in stable condition with no crew injuries. The ship set sail on November 5 and returned to its anchorage off Charleston on November 6.
The “Laust Maersk” has a maximum container capacity of 4,258 TEUs, flies the Hong Kong flag, and its routes cover the ports of Everglades, Newark, Baltimore and Charleston in the United States, as well as Cartagena in Colombia and Manzanillo in Mexico.
A Maersk spokesperson stated that necessary inspections and safety procedures are currently underway on the “Laust Maersk” to assess its condition. Once the inspections are completed and approved, the “Laust Maersk” is expected to dock at the pier, and the affected containers will be unloaded.
Currently, container fires and risks arising from improper cargo loading or incorrect labeling remain significant hidden dangers in the industry. In mid-August this year, another Maersk-owned cargo ship, the “Marie Maersk”, experienced a container fire in West African waters. It took more than a week to bring the fire under control with the support of professional crew and equipment before the ship sailed to Malaysia.
Wan Hai Lines also recently reported that the salvage operation for its ship that caught fire and sank in Indian waters is still underway. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of four crew members.
The shipping industry is actively developing new tools, including artificial intelligence, to identify dangerous goods. Allianz Commercial’s 2025 report indicates that container fires are a major risk, and inaccurate cargo declarations remain the leading cause of fires.