Taiwanese container line Evergreen Marine is bringing home the body of an Italian master who died on board two months ago in Asia.

Asian ports had refused to take the body of 61-year-old Angelo Capurro, after a number of crew members tested positive on the 5,090-teu Ital Libera (built 2009), partner line Hapag-Lloyd said.

"Force majeure has been declared and due to no Asian ports accepting the vessel, she has been diverted to call Italy first in order to repatriate the captain," the German company added.