A containership operated by the Icelandic shipping company Eimskip is currently adrift in the North Atlantic following a main engine failure. The vessel, Dettifoss, experienced the breakdown on July 9 during a voyage from Reykjavík, Iceland, to Nuuk, Greenland.
At the time of the incident, the ship was positioned approximately 390 miles southwest of Iceland. Eimskip reported that weather conditions are calm and there is no immediate danger to either the crew or the vessel.
The Icelandic Coast Guard has dispatched its vessel, Freyja, to assist. Freyja was expected to reach Dettifoss by the evening of July 11 and initiate a tow back to Reykjavík for repairs.
The ship is carrying cargo for Greenland, and Eimskip has assured that customers will be kept informed of any updates. Once in Reykjavík, the company anticipates swift repairs, allowing Dettifoss to resume its regular schedule sometime next week.
Dettifoss, which sails under the flag of the Faroe Islands, is one of Eimskip’s most modern and sizable vessels. Built in China and delivered in 2020, the containership measures 180m in length and has a capacity of 2,150TEU.
With a deadweight tonnage of 25,690 dwt, the vessel is tailored for North Atlantic operations, boasting ice-class certification and compliance with the Polar Code—essential for navigating the frigid waters near Greenland. Its main engine produces 17,000 kW (around 23,000hp) and adheres to Tier III emission standards. Environmentally conscious in design, Dettifoss is equipped with a scrubber system to limit sulfur oxide emissions and technologies to reduce nitrogen oxides.
The vessel operates under a joint service arrangement between Eimskip and Greenland’s Royal Arctic Line, with a regular route that includes ports in Aarhus and Helsingborg in Denmark, Bremerhaven in Germany, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland.
Headquartered in Reykjavík, Eimskip specialises in container and reefer shipping across the North Atlantic and offers comprehensive international freight forwarding services. The company is particularly renowned for its expertise in transporting frozen and chilled goods, underpinning its reputation as a critical logistics provider in the region.
Photo by Ulf Kornfeld/shipspotting.com
