One of the largest containerships in the world, the Emma Maersk, was put under tow on March 1 during rough seas off the coast of Brest, France, the French Maritime Authority said.

The intervention, assistance and rescue tug Abeille Bourbon engaged in a towing exercise as it brought the 15,500 TEU giant to a safe haven where it will undergo maintenance.

The 2006-built Emma Maersk was towed for about three hours at a speed of 3 to 5 knots.

Featuring a length of 400 meters and a width of 56 meters, the vessel is owned and operated by the shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk Group.

We hereby bring you a taste of the operation at the scene:

World Maritime News Staff, Image Courtesy: French Maritime Authority