MSC revamps 2 Europe-US east coast loops to offer faster transits
Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) is to upgrade its MedUSEC and MEDGULF loops in March when both services will start offering faster transit times between Europe and US east coast ports.
The new MedUSEC service is expected to reach New York from the transhipment hub of Sines in seven days, reported American Shipper.
"Improvements to the MSC service will cut as much as four days from the time taken to reach key US east coast ports, such as Baltimore, Norfolk, Savannah and Charleston," MSC said.
The revamped MedUSEC loop removes calls at La Spezia and Boston and adds a new call at Tangiers. The revised port rotation is: Gioia Tauro, Naples, Leghorn, Genoa, Valencia, Algeciras, Sines, New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston, Tangiers, Valencia and back to Gioia Tauro.
The carrier's MEDGULF service will add a call at Algeciras on the westbound leg and port calls at Miami and Algeciras on the eastbound leg to provide faster access to US ports.
The new port rotation for the MEDGULF is: Gioia Tauro, Naples, La Spezia, Barcelona, Valencia, Algeciras, Sines, Freeport (Bahamas), Port Everglades, Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Freeport (Bahamas), Sines, Algeciras, Barcelona and back to Gioia Tauro.
Engine room fire hurts 3, sets 6,350-TEU Singapore MOL ship adrift off BC
Three crewmen were injured in an engine room fire aboard the 6,350-TEU MOL Prestige off the coast of British Columbia, setting the Singapore-flagged vessel adrift south west of Prince Rupert.
The crew was able to put out the fire but several men were injured. They have been transported to hospital in Queen Charlotte City by a Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter.
The ship is now "dead in the water," running only on internal power, reported the Vancouver Sun.
A US oil tanker responded to their distress call and is on scene, waiting in case anything else happens. They will be relieved by the Canadian Coast Guard ship the Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which is expected to arrive by midnight Thursday.
A rescue helicopter was dispatched from Victoria, which took off two individuals who had suffered burns to their hands, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Twenty-one crewmen remain aboard, with electric power from the ship's emergency generator, according to Canadian Coast Guard spokesman John Rose.
The fire has been extinguished, and while the Prestige is still adrift, her situation is stable, Mr Rose said. Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier was on scene to assist, awaiting a salvage tug which was expected to arrive within 12 hours.
Port State Control inspectors in Vancouver found unspecified problems with gauges in her engine room. US Coast Guard inspectors in Seattle found issues with her auxiliary engines in August, and inspectors at Brisbane, Australia logged a deficiency related to fire dampers last March. None resulted in detention.
Asia-Europe rate rises 0.6pc to US$912/TEU, up 6.5pc to USWC
SPOT rates for shipping containers from Asia to northern Europe in the week ending Friday ticked up 0.6 per cent to US$912 per TEU, according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI).
Asia-Mediterranean trade increased 3.2 per cent to $797 per TEU. Asia to the US west coast rose 6.5 per cent week to week to $1,552 per FEU while those to the east coast up three per cent to $2,843 per FEU.
(Source:HKSG-GROUP)
Asia Pacific Shipping
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