Eimskip containership adrift after engine failure near Iceland

The Eimskip-operated containership Dettifoss suffered a main engine failure on July 9 and is currently adrift 390 miles (628 kilometres) southwest of Iceland while on a voyage from Reykjavík to Nuuk, Greenland.

The company stated that the vessel and its crew are not considered to be in danger and that the weather in the area is calm.

The Icelandic coast guard vessel Freyja is en route to the scene and is expected to reach the Dettifoss on the evening of July 12 to begin a tow back to port in Reykjavík.

The vessel is carrying goods bound for Greenland. Once the vessel arrives in Reykjavík, Eimskip stated that repairs are expected to be completed promptly, with the Dettifoss expected to resume its schedule next week.

The Dettifoss is an ice-classed 2,150 TEU containership that was built by Wenchong Shipyard in China and delivered new to Eimskip in 2020. According to company information, it has a length overall of 180 metres and is powered by a 17,000 kW main engine.