MSC_Fabiola

<i>Madrid Express</i>

Madrid Express

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Madrid Express (originally MSC Fabiola) is a container ship built for the Hamburg based Peter Döhle Schiffahrtsgesellschaft by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. The ship was initially chartered by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) as the MSC Fabiola. From 2019 onwards the ship was chartered to Hapag-Lloyd as the Madrid Express. In 2012 the MSC Fabiola became the largest container ship to ever dock in North America, and the largest ship to enter the San Francisco Bay.[3][4]

Quick Facts History, General characteristics ...

MSC Fabiola is the first of a series of identical sister ships. The other three are MSC Faustina, MSC Fillippa, and MSC Filomena.[5]

Operational history

In March 2012 the ship shifted from its initial Asia-to-Europe service to begin trans-Pacific service. On March 16, 2012, MSC Fabiola docked at the Port of Long Beach, breaking earlier records for the largest container ship at a U.S. port, and at any North American port.[6]

At the first U.S. stop in Long Beach, California, the ship was too tall to fit under the Gerald Desmond Bridge and dock at MSC's own terminal, so the Hanjin terminal was used instead.[7] Two days later, MSC Fabiola passed under the Golden Gate Bridge to become the largest ship to enter the San Francisco Bay.[3] The ship docked at the Port of Oakland.[8] MSC Fabiola takes about 18 days to cross the Pacific Ocean from California to China.[9]

The presence of the MSC Fabiola at the Port of Oakland is the result of a 12-year harbor-deepening project that was largely completed in September 2009. Prior to the arrival of MSC Fabiola, the Port of Oakland prepared by checking channel depth and dredging as needed. San Francisco Bay pilots trained for the visit on a simulator at the California Maritime Academy for over a year. The ship arrived drawing less than its full draft of 50 feet 10 inches (15.5 m) because it held only three-quarters of a load after its stop in Long Beach.[10]

2016 Suez Canal grounding

On April 28, 2016, MSC Fabiola ran aground at Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal after experiencing engine problems, forcing canal officials to temporarily suspend all northbound convoys and stop all southbound convoys in the canal. MSC Fabiola was refloated on April 30, resuming her southbound journey through the canal, being escorted by five tugboats.[11][12][better source needed]

References

  1. [1]
    "MSC Fabiola". Germanischer Lloyd. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  2. [2]
    "USA: MSC Fabiola Arrives at Port of Oakland". Dredging Today. March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  3. [3]
    "MSC Fabiola Becomes Largest Ship Ever To Enter SF Bay". KCBS. CBS San Francisco. March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  4. [4]
    Crabb, Aric (March 21, 2012). "MSC Fabiola container ship arrives at the Port of Oakland". San Jose Mercury News. MercuryNews.com. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  5. [5]
    Montreuil, Fabien (February 21, 2011). "La marine marchande au jour le jour..." (in French). Le Havre: marine-marchande.net. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  6. [6]
    "MSC Fabiola calls at POLB, largest box to call US". GCTL8.com. March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  7. [7]
    Porter, Janet (March 6, 2012). "Long Beach prepares for Pacific ultra-large boxship switch". Lloyd's List. Lloyd's. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  8. [8]
    Tyska, Jane (March 21, 2012). "MSC Fabiola containership arrives at the Port of Oakland". Inside Bay Area. Media News Group. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  9. [9]
    Medina, Sarah (March 22, 2012). "MSC Fabiola Is The Largest Vessel Ever To Enter The San Francisco Bay (Photos)". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  10. [10]
    Matthews, Mark (March 22, 2012). "Huge container ship cruises into Port of Oakland". ABC7. San Francisco: KGO-TV/DT. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  11. [11]
    "Grounded Container Ship Blocks Suez Canal". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  12. [12]
    "Grounded Container Ship in Suez Canal Refloated". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
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