Cosco-Piraeus

The fast changing scene on the North American eastern seaboard is welcoming another voyage debut with news of a first direct link to Asia for Florida’s Port of Tampa. Cosco is adding Tampa to its Gulf of Mexico Express (GME) service. The first vessel to load containers for Tampa in China will be the 4,253 teu Cosco Piraeus, starting its eastbound trip on 24 December in Shanghai and scheduled to arrive at Tampa on 28 January, according to the latest weekly report from Alphaliner. The GME service is the smallest of the 18 all-water services linking Asia with the US east coast, and is the only service currently using just classic panamax ships of below 5,000 teu in capacity.

Bankrupt OW-Bunker’s U.S. units, OW Bunker USA and OW Bunker North America, have taken court actions of their own, having had an arrest warrant issued for a panamax containership over unpaid bunker bills, reports Tradewinds. The 4,300 DWT Cosco Piraeus is owned by China-based COSCO Container Lines, and allegedly received bunkers ordered last year by Chimbusco Americas, a joint venture between an affiliate of COSCO and China Marine Bunker Supply Co. According to court documents filed in New Jersey, OW is hoping to receive almost $1 million for fuel that they say was never paid for. Chimbusco Americas has reportedly deposited over $938,000 into an account until the case is resolved. OW Bunker’s U.S. units filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year just days after its parent company in Denmark filed the same. http://shipandbunker.com/news/am/383441-ow-bunker-issues-warrant-for-cosco-ship-over-unpaid-bunkers