Breaking! HMM giant ship collision, major crisis affecting shipping schedules at four major ports

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Time of issue：

2024-12-06 18:00

　　On the morning of December 3, 2024, the ultra-large container ship "HMM St Petersburg" owned by HMM collided with the tanker "Gloria Maris" near the waters off Algeciras, Spain. The incident occurred approximately 8.9 miles southeast of Algeciras, while the container ship was en route from Yantian, China to Algeciras, and the tanker was in ballast condition, having just departed from Cartagena, Spain.

　　"HMM St Petersburg": Owned by HMM, flying the South Korean flag, built in 2020, with a cargo capacity of up to 23,964 TEU. This container ship serves the Far East - Europe FE4 route, operated by THE Alliance, which includes HMM, ONE, Yang Ming Marine Transport, and Hapag-Lloyd, and was fully loaded with cargo departing from Yantian, China at the time of the incident.

　　"Gloria Maris": Flying the Liberian flag, built in 2021, it is a Suezmax tanker with a deadweight of 157,000 tons, which departed from Cartagena, Spain after unloading a batch of crude oil.

　　Impact of the incident

　　Damage to the vessels: Spanish authorities conducted preliminary inspections on both vessels and found damage to the side structures of both ships, but no oil leaks or sinking risks were detected. Eyewitness images showed significant damage to the bow of the "Gloria Maris."

　　Delay in schedules: Due to the incident, the schedule of the "HMM St Petersburg" has been affected and it is currently docked at the port of Algeciras. The ship had previously called at four major domestic ports: Tianjin New Port, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Yantian, with cargo involving multiple shipping companies including Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming Marine Transport. Relevant cargo owners and freight forwarders need to pay attention to cargo status information and delays, and adjust subsequent transportation plans in a timely manner.

　　Port operations: After the incident, the Algeciras Port Authority allowed the "HMM St Petersburg" to dock, while the "Gloria Maris" was instructed to remain at anchor.

　　Currently, both vessels have been detained by Spanish authorities, and safety inspections are being conducted to determine the cause of the collision and ensure seaworthiness. A spokesperson for HMM stated that the exact cause of the collision is still under investigation and that container ship operations will not be interrupted.

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