Breakdown delays Evergreen ship

   Evergreen said Sun Right, a 4,229-TEU chartered containership in its fleet, has sustained mechanical problems off the coast of California while on an eastbound voyage (Voyage No. 0607-119E) in the company’s NUE (North Asia-US East Coast) trade route.
   The ship is being towed to the Port of Los Angeles for necessary repairs and inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs, but inclement weather has slowed the towing operation. It is now estimated that the ship will arrive in Los Angeles the week of November 10.
   After calling Los Angeles, the ship will continue its voyage to Panama, and cargo will be carried to the East Coast ports of Charleston, Norfolk and New York/New Jersey. When the ship reaches Panama, a decision will be made whether to transship the cargoes aboard another vessel to the U.S. East Coast or to have Sun Right continue with the voyage.
   Evergreen said told customers they will have three options when the ship reaches LA:

• Request that Evergreen terminate the voyage at Los Angeles in accordance with Evergreen’s diversion tariff rule OO2-D01
• Have cargo discharged and forwarded via mini-landbridge inland transportation to the East Coast-designated destination, which will be subject to diversion charges including shifting charges
• Keep cargo onboard the ship for eventual transit to the East Coast either directly on the Sun Right or via transshipment at Panama 

   Evergreen said at this time it cannot guarantee any arrival times in regard to the eventual all water delivery of cargo on the ship.
   In order to evaluate the estimated costs of options 1 and 2, customers have been requested to advise Evergreen as soon as possible what option they choose.
   Brian Weinberg, international operations manager at Pathfinder Logistics in Santa Rosa, Calif., said that if Evergreen can allow “change of destinations, our client, and I’m sure many other importers, will be able to deliver their cargo prior to the holidays and avoid major chargebacks.”
   Evergreen said that upon completion of inspection, its long-term schedule will be updated on Evergreen Line’s website.