Rotterdam

The ZIM Rotterdam is to call at DP World London Gateway port and will undergo required maintenance. The 10,000teu ship will be the largest ever cargo vessel to enter the Thames and is expected alongside at 1800hrs Friday (Sept. 20) evening, said in the company's press release. ZIM Rotterdam plies the Asia - North Europe trade route on ZIM's Asia - Europe Express Service (AEX). As a result of an unplanned delay, London Gateway port agreed to accommodate the vessel at short notice. Following the discharge of cargo operations and required maintenance, the ZIM Rotterdam will continue according to her original rotation to other ports in Europe and onward to Asia via the Suez Canal.

The "Zim Rotterdam" troubles seemed to be over on Sep 1, as vessel the anchored on the Suez South Anchorage early in the morning, after having been expelled from Egypt Waters before. The circumcances why the Egypt authorities permitted refused the transit of the Suez Canal remained, however, a riddle.

On Aug 31 the "Zim Rotterdam" was still adrift in northern Red Sea, moving around by making tacks at around two knots speed. On Aug 28 the vessel had been drifting for some time off Sakhna in order to fix the consequences of the fire on Aug 23. Major General Hassan Fallah, head of the Red Sea Ports Authority, forbade the vessel to enter any of the ports on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez on Aug 30. He informed the crew that they were not welcome to enter the Red Sea Ports in South Sinai or the Red Sea Governorate with no explanation given.