MSC Elaine had been outbound on 9 January, with the aid of two port tugs from the terminal, when it reportedly veered off course and got grounded on the southern breakwater.
The 2009-built, 340-m, and 98,968-dwt-ultra-large vessel temporarily blocked the port to other shipping traffic by blocking the harbour entrance, holding eight boats at the terminals.
Video Credits: La Repubblica / YouTube
About five harbour tugs and a port authority-operated patrol vessel were sent to get the ship out of the breakwater. No signs of significant damage to the 8,566-TEU container were noticed. Neither were there signs of pollution. The cause of such an event was also not too clear.
MSC Elaine was eventually refloated, and, per shipping data from reliable sources, the container ship was anchored outside the harbour on 11 January. Its next stop was Marsaxlokk in Malta.
The MSC subsidiary operates the harbour tugs working in the port of Gioia Tauro on buying Scafi’s 50% of the earlier Con. Tug joint venture last year.
MSC is trying to acquire the Italy-based tug owner Rimorchiatori Mediterranean, making it one of the greatest players in the towage sector.
References: The Load Star, Riviera