Collision in Karachi sends containers overboard

A Hapag-Lloyd containership struck a Gold Star Line vessel on Monday while berthing in Karachi.    German ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd said its ship, Tolten ,rammed another ship while berthing in Karachi on Monday.
   In a video of the incident, the rammed ship, Hamburg Bay, appears to be at berth when it was sideswiped.
   While news reports said about 20 containers went overboard, Hapag-Lloyd said there has been no environmental pollution.
   “There is yet to be a definitive explanation for this incident,” Hapag-Lloyd said. “We will conduct an in-depth investigation of the incident, and are working as hard as we can to get the vessel back on its way as quickly as possible.”
   According to BlueWater Reporting, the 8,073-TEU Tolten is one of seven ships operated in the IMEX/MEDEX service between the Mediterranean, Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. Other carriers participating in the service include CMA CGM, COSCO, ANL and Marguisa.
   The 6,350-TEU Hamburg Bay is one of seven ships in Gold Star Line’s China Gulf Express Service that operates between the Far East, Indian Subcontinent and Middle East, according to BlueWater Reporting. Other carriers that participate in the service include TS Lines, SM Line, KMTC, RCL and ZIM. ZIM omits Middle East ports.