Fire erupted aboard the Maersk containership Marie Maersk off the coast of Liberia while en route from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia, Reuters reported.

The crew detected smoke coming from containers and immediately activated emergency protocols. Maersk confirmed all crew members were safe and working to contain the blaze.

Two firefighting tugboats reached the vessel to assist in extinguishing the fire. The ship was under controlled navigation with "restricted maneuverability" status.

The vessel, part of Maersk's Triple-E class, is 399 metres long and capable of carrying over 19,000 TEU.

Dutch salvage firm SMIT is coordinating the response. No explosions or secondary incidents have been reported, and Maersk is maintaining constant communication with the crew.

The incident underscores ongoing fire safety challenges aboard ultra-large containerships, especially those carrying hazardous cargo.