A fleet of tugboats operated by a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) subsidiary refloated an MSC container ship that struck the rock breakwater at the entrance of Italy’s largest container port, Gioia Tauro
MSC Elaine was outbound with the assistance of two port tugs from the terminal on 9 January, when it veered off course and grounded on the southern breakwater in good weather.
The 98,968-dwt, 340-m ultra-large container ship temporarily closed the port to other shipping traffic when it blocked the harbour entrance, holding eight other ships in the terminals.
At least five harbour tugs and a port authority-operated patrol vessel were sent to help remove the 2009-built container ship from the breakwater. There were no signs of major damage to the 8,566-TEU ship or pollution from the incident. Nor was there any indication of the cause of the accident.
Eventually, MSC Elaine was refloated and, according to Marine Traffic AIS data, was anchored outside the harbour 11 January. Its next scheduled stop was to be Marsaxlokk, Malta.
MSC subsidiary MedTug operates the harbour tugs working in the port of Gioia Tauro after purchasing Scafi’s 50% of the previous Con.Tug joint venture in 2022.
MSC is also in the process of acquiring Italian tug owner Rimorchiatori Mediterranei from investors, which will make it one of the largest players in the towage sector.
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