08 March 2021
We are pleased to advise Maersk Essen discharge operations continue successfully in APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles. Many containers bound for inland destinations have already departed on rail while others remaining local have been picked up from the terminal. We are still targeting a departure date of March 11 for sailing back to Asia.
We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. Should you have any questions on your cargo – please contact your local Maersk professional or Customer Service Team.
04 March 2021
The Maersk Essen 051N arrived at the APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles berth this morning to start a complete discharge of all cargo. Discharge operations will continue at a normal pace which will last 6+ days.
We encourage you to please ensure your Customs clearance is in place and house bills are properly documented (if you were notified of the need to split containers off your original bills of lading.)
02 March 2021
Yesterday morning, the Maersk Essen arrived at the anchorage outside of APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles. We expect to berth the Essen between March 4 – 5, and the final date and time should be confirmed by March 3. We are optimistic we can berth and begin discharging containers this week.
25 February 2021
The Maersk Essen was en route to APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles – and experienced a medivac situation (one crewman with arm injuries) on February 23 which took place near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Shortly thereafter, on February 24th the vessel experienced an engine oil situation that is being addressed.
The expected ETA date is March 5 at the berth, however, is subject to change based on the current situation in Los Angeles. We expect to have better clarity when we see the speed of the current waiting line at the anchorage.
22 February 2021
We are pleased to report the Maersk Essen 051N has completed her port operations in APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico and will depart February 22.
The vessel will sail full speed to the Los Angeles anchorage (a 3-day journey) in an effort to arrive early and be in position to berth APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles prior to her current scheduled arrival March 4. The situation is subject to change based on the number of vessels waiting but our plan is to make every effort to advance her in the waiting line for an earlier ETA.
Our next update will be when the vessel arrives at the anchorage or if we have new details to share.
15 February 2021
As an update to our customer advisory of February 12th, the Maersk Essen’s estimated time of departure from Lazaro Cardenas is now February 20th and, subject to waiting time at anchorage in Los Angeles, is estimated to berth at APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles on March 4th. The departure date is based on coordination with various service suppliers and vendors.
The situation remains fluid and these timelines are subject to change based on the progress of (minor) vessel repairs and cargo operations in Lazaro Cardenas.
We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. Should you have any questions on your cargo – please contact your local Maersk professional or Customer Service Team.
12 February 2021
Maersk Essen port operations continue as planned in the port of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico and we’re working with customers on cargo impacted.
The vessel still plans to be in Los Angeles on March 1 at the APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles berth for discharge operations of import cargo. (the March 1 date reflects sailing next week from Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico and then waiting in the LA-Long Beach harbor prior to entering the Pier 400 berth).
Should you have any questions on your cargo – please contact your local Maersk professional or Customer Service Team.
08 February 2021
Maersk Essen port operations continue as planned in the port of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.
Our planned schedule continues to show the Maersk Essen in Los Angeles on March 1 at the berth in APM Terminals Pier 400 (this schedule factors in the sailing from Lazaro, anchorage/waiting time in LA-Long Beach).
Cargo notifications for impacted cargo are ongoing this week to impacted customers.
We are working to get your cargo to you as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding and partnership. Should you have any questions on your cargo – please contact your local Maersk professional or Customer Service Team.
05 February 2021
Safe discharge of damaged cargo continues at our Lazaro Cardenas facility.
We still expect Maersk Essen to depart Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico for Los Angeles around February 16, arriving at the LA-Long Beach anchorage on February 19. The vessel will have berth availability on March 1 at APM Terminals Pier 400 (based on current harbor waiting times). At that time, the full discharge of import containers will take place.
This week, we have also finalized the list of containers lost overboard, and notifications will be forthcoming early next week.
We are working to get your cargo to you as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding and partnership.
03 February 2021
The Maersk Essen arrived into APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico on January 30, 2021 where she is currently undergoing standard discharge of damaged containers and weather-related repairs. The vessel is scheduled to depart 12-16 February (subject to change) for APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles, resuming regular TP6 string scheduled calls.
Our customer care process is ongoing to review the cargo onboard, the safe discharge of damaged containers, and to confirm the status of lost cargo.
During this process, we pledge to keep you fully informed of all developments. You might hear from us asking for your review of a potential new routing option for your cargo that we believe will be a good fit – and will rely on your swift confirmation prior to proceeding.
We are working to get your cargo to you as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding and partnership.
01 February 2021
The TP6 string Maersk Essen arrived into APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico on Saturday, January 30, 2021.
She will undergo standard discharge of damaged containers and weather-related repairs – which will entail a longer port stay than normal (due to a slower pace for cargo handling procedures for damaged containers with extra safety precautions).
Our current plan shows the vessel is scheduled to depart February 12-16 (subject to change) for Los Angeles, resuming regular TP6 string scheduled calls. Should this date change, we will keep you informed.
Regarding US Customs, we ask that you please do not file any import entries with US Customs at this time. Let us review the details for all cargo onboard - and specific instructions related to your cargo will follow.
Lastly, it is important to note if your cargo travels with house and master bills of lading that adjustments might be required as we determine more specific cargo-related impacts. We will also share those specifics with you as they become available.
Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments. In addition, our customer experience representatives will continue to keep you updated directly.
27 January 2021
We realize the importance of your cargo on the Maersk Essen and apologize for the supply chain disruption. Here’s today’s update
Arrival
The vessel will arrive at the APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico berth on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The plan is to inspect the vessel and any damaged cargo onboard and then determine cargo options.
Our approach to the incident
Our Incident Management Team has met daily since January 16th as part of our global approach to these situations. The team is comprised of Maersk functional experts from global security/business resilience, nautical, port, operations, customer service, communications, legal, claims, procurement and landside cargo execution.
Scenario-planning
While we await the Maersk Essen’s arrival into port to obtain a more accurate assessment of cargo impacted – we are exploring these options
Damaged containers onboard
We will discharge any damaged containers and inform you if your cargo is impacted and work with you on next steps. The amount of time to discharge the damaged containers is not clear yet – we will have clarity once the vessel arrives into port, a damage assessment is performed and port operations get underway.
Potentially Damaged containers
Routing updates have been made in our systems to reflect the Lazaro Cardenas discharge for the containers that are potentially damaged. As a result of these changes, you will receive a notification if you are subscribed on Maersk website. If you are tracking your shipment on Maersk website you will see the updated routing as well.
It will appear as if the Maersk Essen is performing a transshipment, but we will likely change the final inbound vessel and/or routing into LSA. This is a follow up to the previous communication your team received last week as we work through the necessary updates.
Containers with no damage
We’re evaluate four routing options to handle your cargo
Scenario 1: Cargo remains onboard/vessel sails Lazaro Cardenas to Pier 400 Los Angeles
We are hopeful we will be able to remove the damaged containers (located above deck) in Lazaro Cardenas and then sail the vessel to APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles, California (the original port call) for normal discharge operations.
Supply chain-wise, this is a three-day sailing time – however there is likely a 14-day wait period to enter the port (which is the current vessel backlog into LA-Long Beach). Once at berth this could still be a 6-day period to discharge the vessel due to the current ganging restrictions in the port of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
Supply chain timing: this scenario is also contingent on the amount of time spent in port in Lazaro Cardenas to remove the damaged containers and make any repairs to the ship. (the exact number of containers that are damaged and the specific repairs to the vessel are still unknown at this time - we do not know until the vessel inspection).
Scenario 2: Load Maersk Essen cargo on another vessel in Lazaro Cardenas for transit to Los Angeles
This scenario involves discharging containers in Lazaro Cardenas and loading on another vessel/service to Pier 400 Los Angeles. We are exploring options for available space and timing. This scenario would involve a three-day vessel transit plus a 14-day waiting time at anchorage in Los Angeles to enter the port – and then 3-6 day stay at berth for discharge.
Supply chain timing: this scenario is also contingent on the amount of time in port in Lazaro Cardenas to remove the damaged containers and make any repairs to the ship. (the exact number of containers that are damaged and the specific repairs to the vessel are still unknown at this time - we do not know until the vessel inspection).
Scenario 3: Cargo routing via rail by Kansas City Southern (KCS) to Los Angeles and final destinations as originally booked
This scenario entails inland rail routings across Mexico and across the US border.
We are working with KCS to determine timing and rail capacity. Depending on US location, this could range from 7-12 days best case scenario.
Scenario 4: Customers consider leaving cargo in Mexico for use in their Mexico City supply chain
For those customers willing to leave cargo within their Mexico supply chains, APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas has daily departures with dedicated trains to Mexico City's 21 million consumer market.
These scenarios are not confirmed options yet – but in the interest of time we wanted to share our thought pattern on how we get your cargo moving to support your supply chain planning.
We will be back in touch with more concrete options – once we see the vessel in port and understand the magnitude of cargo on deck that is damaged and the time to remove it – and the time to make any repairs to the vessel.
Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments. In addition, our customer experience representatives will continue to keep you updated directly.
22 January 2021
Latest Update
In yesterday's advisory, we communicated that the Maersk Essen is proceeding to Lazaro Cardenas to assess the condition of the vessel and cargo onboard, and we expect this process to take a matter of 2-3 weeks. All going well, the intention remains for the Maersk Essen to then call Los Angeles to deliver the cargo that is unaffected. At this point in time we are not anticipating the need to reroute the cargo from Lazaro Cardenas by land (rail) or alternate vessel, but we cannot rule out any option until the contingency plan is finalized.
What you can expect?
With regards to potentially damaged containers, we have conducted a preliminary assessment onboard and you will be receiving a separate communication with the initial status of your containers by Monday Jan 25, if not already. We will however re-evaluate the condition of the containers onboard once a more detailed inspection is completed in Lazaro Cardenas and will send you additional updates.
Your supply chain is of the utmost concern to us and we will continue to keep you informed of all developments. In addition, our customer experience representatives will continue to keep you updated directly.
21 January 2021
Latest Update
We wanted to let you know that our Crisis Management Team is directing the Maersk Essen to call the port of APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico (on the Pacific coast). Subject to vessel clearance and other formalities, the expected berthing date is January 29, 2021. APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas is a modern, deep-water port that serves Mexico City.
Considerations
Our decision was based on the need to remove damaged containers and conduct vessel repairs onboard which will entail a lengthy port stay. We explored all alternative port call options on the US West Coast from Tacoma to Los Angeles/Long Beach – and none were deemed feasible due to berth availability.
We realize this is not the original port call at APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles scheduled for January 28th – and apologize for the inconvenience and disruption to your supply chain.
What you can expect?
Once the vessel berths in Lazaro Cardenas, we will be able to get better access to the affected areas and survey the condition of the containers onboard. As this information becomes available, we will re-evaluate routing options for the cargo and the vessel’s onward schedule. It is therefore not known yet when the vessel and cargo will arrive in Los Angeles, but we expect a delay of 2-3 weeks compared to the original transport plan.
20 January 2021
To keep you informed, the TP6 Maersk Essen’s rough sea encounter has resulted in approximately 750 containers overboard - along with additional damaged containers onboard. More details will be known as surveys continue and once the ship arrives in port.
The ship is sailing in smooth seas now while we evaluate the best port of call to handle the discharge of the cargo and the repair work on the ship. Since the Saturday, January 16th incident, our Crisis Management Team has met daily to evaluate the next steps.
Our customer experience representatives will be contacting you to provide more details on the cargo affected and the next destination of the vessel, as more information becomes available.
18 January 2021
We regret to inform you that the TP6 vessel - Maersk Essen 051N - experienced heavy weather on the 16th January 2021, while en route from Xiamen, China, to Los Angeles, California.
Our preliminary reports indicate that a limited number of containers have been lost overboard and a number of containers are damaged onboard. All crew members have been reported to be safe and the ship is safe.
We are currently assessing suitable port options to berth the vessel and will keep you informed of the port location decision and timing. In the meantime, we are awaiting further updates from the vessel regarding potentially impacted containers and will share the details once available.
We apologize for the inconvenience this incident may cause to your business. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local Maersk professional.
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