The largest container vessel to enter the Thames is moored at London Gateway port after a fire on board.
Zim Rotterdam, an unscheduled visitor to the port, which is still under construction and not ready to handle cargo, flies the Liberian flag and is one of the world’s biggest boxships, transporting containers around the globe. She asked London Gateway at short notice on Friday whether she could come in for essential repairs after reports of a firelast month.
The vessel, from Port Klang in Malaysia, and bound for Felixstowe, was reported to have been adfrift in the Red Sea before
THE 10,062-TEU Zim Rotterdam, with a recent fire aboard consuming 20 containers, diverted from Felixstowe to DP World's London Gateway port for repairs, reported the local news site, Your Thorrock.
THE 10,062-TEU Zim Rotterdam, with a recent fire aboard consuming 20 containers, diverted from Felixstowe to DP World's London Gateway port for repairs, reported the local news site, Your Thorrock.
Industry sources say Felixstowe will not now accept Zim Rotterdam because the vessel would tie up berthing space for a prolonged period, but Felixstowe officials were not available for comment.
"We welcome the vessel to London Gateway to allow it to undertake essential work so it can continue quickly on its way," said a spokesman for London Gateway, a terminal that is not expected to upon until later this year.
As a result of an unplanned delay, London Gateway port agreed to accommodate the vessel at short notice.
Three weeks ago, the master reported a fire in 20 of its containers while en route from Malaysia to Djibouti.
Zim was unable to provide details on the condition of the vessel or its cargo, but said a customer advisory would be released.
The vessel was due to call at Felixstowe, according Lloyd's List Intelligence. The AIS vessel monitoring system has Zim Rotterdam was located off Cherbourg when the new London Gateway destination was determined.
London Gateway on the lower Thames, is in test mode on non-commercial cargo as it builds up to an official launch, said Lloyd's List, adding that the arrival of Zim Rotterdam will allow the port further to flex its cargo-handling systems.
ISRAELI VESSEL ZIM ROTTERDAM PREVENTED FROM ENTERING RED SEA PORTS
Fire-damaged Zim Rotterdam berths at London Gateway
THE fire-damaged Zim Rotterdam berthed at the UK’s fledgling container terminal London Gateway at 1942 hours on Friday and is expected to discharge its cargo and undergo “required maintenance” there.
Fire broke out on the 2010-built, 10,062 teu boxship, spreading to 20 containers as the vessel approached the southern gateway of the Suez Canal on August 23.
It became the largest cargoship to enter the Thames after its scheduled call at the port of Felixstowe was aborted.
A spokesman for the DP World UK container port said: “When we got the call from Zim on Wednesday afternoon, we realised that a solution was needed quickly and so we just got on with the job straight away.
“Everyone knows we are not opening London Gateway until November and that has not changed, but we weren’t going to let Zim down when they needed support.”
He said the ship would undertake essential work at London Gateway, before sailing on “as soon as possible.”
Zim vice-president shipping Rai Ben Ari said: “While the call to DP World’s London Gateway was not planned in advance, this is certainly a happy coincidence. We are proud to call at the state-of-the-art terminal and we look forward to future co-operation with DP World London Gateway.”
According to Zim’s partner on the Asia-Europe AEX1 service, China Shipping Container Lines, London Gateway will open for vehicle deliveries from 1400hrs today and consignees will be granted 14 calendar days’ demurrage free of charge.
Zim Rotterdam berthed at DP World’s London Gateway on Friday evening and is to remain for one week.
THE fire-damaged Zim Rotterdam berthed at the UK’s fledgling container terminal London Gateway at 1942 hours on Friday and is expected to discharge its cargo and undergo “required maintenance” there.
Fire broke out on the 2010-built, 10,062 teu boxship, spreading to 20 containers as the vessel approached the southern gateway of the Suez Canal on August 23.
It became the largest cargoship to enter the Thames after its scheduled call at the port of Felixstowe was aborted.
A spokesman for the DP World UK container port said: “When we got the call from Zim on Wednesday afternoon, we realised that a solution was needed quickly and so we just got on with the job straight away.
“Everyone knows we are not opening London Gateway until November and that has not changed, but we weren’t going to let Zim down when they needed support.”
He said the ship would undertake essential work at London Gateway, before sailing on “as soon as possible.”
Zim vice-president shipping Rai Ben Ari said: “While the call to DP World’s London Gateway was not planned in advance, this is certainly a happy coincidence. We are proud to call at the state-of-the-art terminal and we look forward to future co-operation with DP World London Gateway.”
According to Zim’s partner on the Asia-Europe AEX1 service, China Shipping Container Lines, London Gateway will open for vehicle deliveries from 1400hrs today and consignees will be granted 14 calendar days’ demurrage free of charge.
London Gateway is totally not ready to handle any kind of vessel. There are problems with their cranes unloading the vessel, the way they stack the boxes after unloading, their container release system, the lack of any rail service.
ReplyDeleteThis decision is a total disaster for anyone with cargo on Zim Rotterdam.
4 days after berthing, we have only 1 fcl released from 18 on the vessel. Many others are in the same position.
Mr Rai Ben Ari of Zim Lines comments are at best optimistic and very economic with the truth of the current position
who do you work for MIKE SMITH
ReplyDeleteMike Smith - could you make contact with myself to make sure you are genuine please.
ReplyDeleteAlso anonymous could you do the same plaese
felixstowedocker@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you
If I do not receive any contact from Mike Smith by 12.00pm today I am going to remove this comment.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE to current position.
ReplyDelete24 Hours later...
NO MORE CONTAINERS UNLOADED
NO MORE CONTAINERS RELEASED
NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN OR EVEN IF THEY WILL BE.
The most optimistic solution would be to move the vessel from London Gateway to Felixstowe for the original rescheduled slot on 22/09.
They should never have gone there... Why not choose Thamesport which is already established and fully functional.
Lies.....
DeleteLove the criticism LG is getting when in fact Felixstowe turned the ship away. Everyone saying but its taking to long, if LG didnt accommodate the vessel customers would be waiting even long. If it wasnt ment to berth till the 22nd why are you all complaining?
ReplyDeleteSo Anonymous is an LG publicist...
ReplyDeleteShame on money grabbing LG - taking the vessel when they knew they couldn't handle it.
I understand ZIM were looking at Thamesport and if it had gone there the goods would be unloaded and cleared and we would all have our cargo by now...
LG publicist. Is that what you think? How wrong are you. So why did Zim get in contact with LG rather than Thamesport?
DeleteI know of many problems they are experiencing at London gateway and the haulage companies are struggling to get boxes released and onto the road, so it is not all untrue and they are allegedly having to scan a very high percentage of the imports.
ReplyDeleteMyself / Mike Smith and Danny Walker are not hiding behind " anonymous ".........are you another DP World employee frightend to speak out ?
ReplyDelete...at anonymous...you're obviously a greenhorn....get used to being a trained chimpanzee in a circus...you will never have a collective voice when you might need it...learn the hard way buddy...
ReplyDeleteIf Carlsberg did greenhorn they'd have probably opened London Gateway! Who are you anon? I object to the term "trained chimpanzees" --- at Felixstowe they're HIGHLY trained chimpanzees,
ReplyDeleteI was one of them until I retired at 56 with a decent pension --- I wonder if that was the collective voice that got that for me? Hmmmm, I think it was.
With zero hour contracts and jacks of all trades at low wages they have got exactly what they deserve --- a bastard-great ship and no-one capable of working it.
..not the pro LG anon....could not agree more Jerry...London Gateway Port a BAD location to redistribute the 3.5 million TEU annual capacity the port will handle..coupled with a monsterously huge logistic park...adding low paid, non union, zero hour workforce is a recipe for disaster!!...one day the workforce and residents of Thurrock will realise this...hopefully before the new port can do irreparable damage to the UK container port industry.
DeleteNice one Jerry - another quality trained worker who is not afraid to put his name to this blog. Anonymous could well be a PR / Manager / casual........ but is a very scared person.
ReplyDeleteI work for London Gateway and have to admit-it is bit embarrassing but remember that we are not officially opened yet and ZIM was aware that it will take ages to discharge and deliver boxes. Shame that this message was not passed down the line to hauling companies and thier customers.
ReplyDeleteProper test will be in November when we will open with all facilities. If we will not deliver what we have promissed, then you can start judging us.
Thank you for finally being honest..............It makes the whole thing a bit more plausible.
ReplyDelete0753 Anonymous is different person than other anonymous posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that........you cant blame them for keeping their names off this blog because with no union behind them they will just be " removed " from their job.
ReplyDeleteI <3 Mike Smith
ReplyDeleteAnonymous because I wont make an account thats why. Yes aswell a DP employee Im not frightened to tell. Haha the chimpanzee comment how childish we have no voice?? What because we wont join a Union? Have you been at LG so how would you know we dont have a voice. At the end of the day Zim contacted LG and no Thamesport end of! So why dont you get off your high horses and go blame ZIM we done them a favour. Felixstowe should have pulled there finger out and make arrangements to accommodate Rotterdam instead of moaning that it would cause to much trouble. Obviously dont have the ability to make the arrangements so ZIM LG and Felixstowe at too blame.
ReplyDeleteNot too sure you understand the concept of a busy working port, (Felixstowe)with vessels berthing arrangements made weeks or months in advance it would be ridiculous to commit a very large berth to a crippled containership, it would be like suddenly taking out one of Heathrow airports runways for an unspecified period.
DeleteHaving worked on the Port of Felixstowe for the best part of 30 years in various rolls from sweeping the floors to a senior staff position, and also at the Port of Ipswich for a couple of years, again various rolls including being a Shop Steward. I feel I can comment on the posts before, one small point I would like to make is that London Gateway will end up with a recognised union, this will happen only after it is up and running. Why am I sure of this ? Well I know a few of the workforce( I was nearly one but decided it was not for me. )all who have been in the industry a few years and have worked in various ports around the world including the UK. All are members and have said that they will make it a priority to get as many of the workforce possible to join a union and indeed quite a few are already members, this will inevitably grow and grow, when the numbers reach over 50% that is the time LG will have to reconsider. I predict that within 24 months, if LG is a success ? LG will be unionised. (Could even see the VOR make a comeback !!!) Jim Feaviour not ANONYMOUS
ReplyDeleteFancy meeting you here Jim!
DeleteThis whole LG thing is really getting under my fingernails - VOR could happen!
As a POF employee of 22 years and member of unite.
ReplyDeleteI am becoming increasingly concerned that unite are not in business of serving its members, but serving its self as an organisation.
To push our members for strike action against Hutchinson at such a critical time is suicide for us, as soon as we lose trade and become unprofitable Hutchinson will have no second thoughts in selling us off.
History has taught us tough lessions, you can only push a company so hard for so long. I for one wolud rarther have a secure job than gamble that for a few quid in bonuses.
Maybe its time we accept that we should sacrifice our small bonus and support our company in securing its future?
Unite are short sighted, self serving and powerless for change.
Blowing a few whistles and a waving a couple of flags is not a sign of strength, its a sign of how desperate they are to think they can control the free market.
I am also a member of Unite and tho i have not been an employee at POF for 22 yrs it's close enough. I agree that Unite as an organisation is primarily preoccupied with serving it's self rather that it's members. I find little to fault the ports union reps though i must admit recommending the acceptance of the joint proposal is beyond me the union gains a bit the company will do away with the bonus and once again the hourly paid get a kick in the teeth and the satisfaction of knowing that once again we have paid for our own pay rise this year.It's time we stood up and said no more, if you want the shareholders to have more profit take it from someone else. Also if you not going to invest in decent plant and get the roads into shape don't make wild promises to customers that you cannot keep...Bring back Peter Morton and clear out the dead wood managers .As for LG having seen the contracts they hired people on i wouldn't take it so it just shows that people must be desperate out there and if they are that desperate to work on those terms ..good luck to em.
ReplyDeleteI have cargo on board the Zim Rotterdam - part container load. She was originally planned to call Felixstowe on 14th Sep. We were then told 22nd Sep. Then out of he blue she's going to LG on 13th Sep. One week later she is still sitting at LG.... According to the PLA she is due to sail Sunday afternoon but can't see that happening. We have no idea when the container with our shipment will be available. If LG don't get their act together I don't think the other ports have too much to worry about!
ReplyDeleteGlen
Keep on posting the comments - it gets all the info out in the open.
ReplyDeleteI think the most frustrating thing is the lack of communication from Zim / China Shipping etc. to their Customers. We all knew that LG not being officially open and there would be teething problems. But after a week after arrival, with containers still not discharged, it makes you wonder if Zim were just a bit shortsighted just wanting the "glory" of being the 1st Vessel into the new London Gateway. UK Border Agency should have also rejected it knowing that the infrastructure was not in place to accept such a Vessel.
ReplyDeleterant on. sorry, this thread has got lost now anyway lol. no one is attacking any lg employee. you do what you need to do to live and feed your family. my personal opinion is that i am glad unite union are highlighting employers who are looking to screw their workforce back to the stone age. you work in a dangerous and skilled area and whether you know it or not, you will need all the help you can get to ensure you can feed your family and yourself for a long time to come.my union are doing what i want them to.
ReplyDeleteas for forcing us at felixstowe into a vote for strike action. what a load of twaddle, no one forced me to vote and sometimes you have to do what you have to do to ensure you are protected. the vote was not for strike, it was for the right to take industrial action if nessesary up to and including a strike. the important word here was NEGOTIATION. we know that change happens and in some cases is inevitable (like changes to bonus)but changes just being imposed without negotiation is wrong for an employer who wishes the best from his workforce. we work at felixstowe, most are proud to work at felixstowe. i hope unite or any representitive body can give the employess at lg what we have enjoyed for so long. rant over
That statement is just so right, well put Gerry.
ReplyDeleteI am not an expert on any of this just an interested bystander! We have goods on this boat. We were told on Monday that the container had been off loaded and would be delivered this week. We were then told, less than one hour later, that because the BF(?) had found traces of radio activity on some of the containers delivery was cancelled and the container was held! We have heard nothing since Monday.
ReplyDeleteWe have several containers from Zim Rotterdam awaiting delivery both FCL and LCL and no idea when they are coming in. Cannot get any transport companies who are prepared to wait in the queues at London Gateway IF we could get a collection slot. Wish there was some communication, but we can't get any information.......
ReplyDeleteYour right Gerry i wasn't forced the union recommended a yes yes vote which i happily obliged but i won't vote for whats being offered now. It gives us nothing and the company have lied and mislead us on too much in the past already. Time to kick back i think.
ReplyDeleteI have been told that the container we have MAY be available on Wednesday... they didn't say which Wednesday though :-)
ReplyDeleteGlen too right, which Wednesday, we had been promised 1 week ago for last 2 weeks, then this Saturday, now because missed Saturday we cannot have Monday so maybe Tuesday what a joke down at Port of London. I understand may be having problems at a new port but come on 2 weeks and still no clue now. I will never let any of our containers go into this port every again. So good look Port of London and suggest get you a new manager
ReplyDelete