CMA CGM's 10,100-TEU APL Qingdao, suffered a loss of propulsion near New York's longest span, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, risking a collision like the one that took down Baltimore's harbour bridge two weeks ago, reports Oslo's TradeWinds.

Coast Guard spokesman Specialist Ryan Schultz said the ship did not suffer a full power outage, but a "loss of propulsion that was restored a short time later."

This, he said, impacted the vessel's ability to move through the water without assistance. This differs from a loss of power, where the ship loses its ability to generate power for all systems on board."