A US court has issued an arrest warrant for a vessel belonging to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company following allegations by a terminal operator that the ship caused damage to a pier by losing control at full speed.
Carver Maritime LLC has filed a lawsuit alleging that on June 5, the MSC Michigan operated “out of control” on the Cooper River, causing extensive damage to Carver Maritime Pier J.
According to the company, the container ship was traveling at over 15 knots, or “full ahead,” creating a significant wake and displacing water as it passed the pier.
The lawsuit also states that another vessel, the Norway Pearl, was docked at the pier during the incident. Carver Maritime claims the Norway Pearl was pulled away from its mooring lines and then violently slammed back into the pier, resulting in considerable damage.
What happens when MSC Michigan VII, a 997 foot, 75k ton, 6,252 TEU, Liberian-flagged container ship, has its throttle control system stuck at 15 knots and comes screaming down the Cooper River in Charleston? pic.twitter.com/54iznuSni0
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️ (@mercoglianos) June 7, 2024
Built in 2000, the 80,000 dwt containership with a capacity of 6,700 TEU was leaving Charleston around midday on June 5.
According to the pilot, the vessel experienced a failure in its propulsion control systems, causing it to accelerate to a speed far exceeding the channel’s limits. Police temporarily closed a major roadway bridge above the channel while the pilot skillfully guided the ship out to the ocean despite the excessive speed.
