MSC mega-ship collides with fishing boat off Peru

Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s 13,092-TEU containership MSC Regulus collided with the Ecuadorian fishing vessel Don Gerardo II early Saturday morning, reportedly killing at least five people and injuring a dozen more.    A Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) containership collided with an Ecuadorian fishing vessel in international waters off the coast of Peru early Saturday morning, according to a statement from MSC.
   The 13,092-TEU MSC Regulus collided with the Don Gerardo II at 5:02 a.m. local time about 220 miles from Zorritos-Tumbes in northwest Peru while en route from the port of Callao to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.
   According to the Peruvian Navy, Marina de Guerra del Perú (MGP), the fishing boat capsized and sank, killing at least five people and injuring a dozen more.
   MSC said it immediately alerted the relevant authorities in both Ecuador and Peru at the time of the incident, and initiated search and rescue procedures, bringing any wounded on board the ship for medical treatment.
   MGP said it has opened an investigation into the cause of the collision in coordination with Panamanian authorities, and MSC said it would cooperate fully with any inquiries.
   “Our first priority is to understand the circumstances which led to this tragic incident,” the ocean carrier said.
   “As a family-run company, MSC is deeply shocked and saddened by the deaths and injuries that have occurred in connection with this tragic incident,” it added. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the fishermen’s families and their loved ones.”
   The MSC Regulus serves on the carrier’s joint Asia-West Coast South America and Mexico Andes Express/NEWACSA2 loop with CMA CGM, HMM and COSCO, on which Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd and subsidiary lines Alianca, ANL and CCNI also purchase slots, according to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting.
   The Andes Express/NEWACSA2 operates with 12 vessels with an average capacity of 11,632 TEUs and a full port rotation of Busan, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, Coronel, Lirquen, Mejillones, Callao, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo (Mexico) and Busan.