Shipping

‘Southern Cross’ repaired after collision

Valentine Watkins

Prompt repair work on the Pacific Direct Line (PDL) vessel 'Southern Cross' has seen it return to service only two days after being involved in a collision with CMA CGM's 'Westerems' in the port of Suva, Fiji.

According to PDL chief executive Olivier Ravel, the 189-metre, 2,072-TEU Westerems "lost power and hit us" while berthing behind the 40-metre and 297-TEU 'Southern Cross' on the morning of January 8.

However, Mr Ravel was upbeat about the incident and said his vessel had since departed with a repaired stern for Samoa.
"Not a huge deal really… just happy no one got hurt," he said.

"These things happen from time to time unfortunately."

The Westerems, which plies the ANZEC service, was understood to have not suffered any notable damage in the incident.

Iain MacIntyre