The crew of a Maersk Line containership was forced to abandon the vessel after it collided with a Norddeutsche Reederei boxship off China.

The 4,650-teu Safmarine Meru (built 2006) collided with the 8,411-teu Northern Jasper (built 2009) around 120 nautical miles East of Ningbo.

Maersk Line said Saturday’s collision caused severe damage to the Hong Kong-flagged Safmarine Meru and a fire broke out forcing the ship abandonment.

However,