Maersk Lanco incident threatens European lime supply

An incident aboard the Maersk Lanco has disrupted the shipment of Brazilian citrus fruits to the European market. On September 4, a fire broke out in the South Atlantic, approximately 170 to 270 miles off the coast of Brazil, while the vessel was en route from Santos to Tangier Med, Morocco.

Following the fire, the ship sustained engine room damage that prevented it from continuing its scheduled voyage. The vessel diverted to Salvador, Brazil, where it arrived on September 11 for inspections and repairs. The cargo includes perishable goods, primarily Brazilian limes and mangoes, destined for European ports such as Rotterdam and London.

Maersk confirmed that the refrigerated containers (reefers) on board experienced a temporary loss of power during the incident. While power has since been restored and units are being reconnected, the full extent of the impact on the cargo remains unknown due to a lack of complete temperature records. Industry experts suggest the delay could create supply pressures and affect prices for limes in Europe in the coming weeks.