Following Moller-Maersk’s recent credit rating being downgraded by Moody from BAA1 to BAA2, with a negative outlook, and by Standard & Poor  to BBB, their problems continued to get worse.

Two of their offshore supply vessels, Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper, were being towed to a ship recycling yard in Turkey by another Maersk vessel, Maersk Battler. On 22nd December they were en route from Fredericia in Denmark. When they were approximately 60 miles off the French coast both vessels sank: at present no reason has been given for the loss of both vessels.

The vessels had been emptied of oil and fuel oil and flushed through, so Maersk stated that there was no danger to the environment. All crew were rescued and were safely on board the Maersk Battler. The French Coast Guard were notified of the incident and were investigating.

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