The 6,648 TEU container ship MSC Michigan VII, owned by liner major MSC, has been released from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) detention order that had been in place since June 8th in Charleston, according to the US Coast Guard.

The vessel was authorised to depart the Port of Charleston on Monday, escorted by three tugs, two of which will be tethered to the ship.

This departure comes on the back of successful dockside trials conducted by main engine service technicians and Port State Control examiners from Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the coast guard said. These trials verified the proper operation of the main engine and essential auxiliary systems. The vessel is also required to provide proof of successful sea trials before returning to the United States.

MSC Michigan VII was placed in detention after losing propulsion on June 5, 2024, due to a disconnection in the vessel’s control linkage for the main engine governor, which rendered the propulsion control systems inoperable, USCG said. The investigation into this disconnection is ongoing.

The MSC Michigan VII’s next port of call will be Freeport, Bahamas.

The loss of propulsion raised concerns and led to the closure of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston. The incident, which occurred as the vessel was outbound from the North Charleston Container Terminal, prompted local law enforcement to shut down vehicle traffic and evacuate Fort Moultrie Beach. This was done as a precautionary measure, mirroring recent events in Baltimore where similar issues associated with power failure on a large container ship resulted in a tragic bridge collapse.

The 6,648 TEU container ship MSC Michigan VII, owned by liner major MSC, has been released from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) detention order that had been in place since June 8th in Charleston, according to the US Coast Guard.

The vessel was authorised to depart the Port of Charleston on Monday, escorted by three tugs, two of which will be tethered to the ship.

This departure comes on the back of successful dockside trials conducted by main engine service technicians and Port State Control examiners from Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the coast guard said. These trials verified the proper operation of the main engine and essential auxiliary systems. The vessel is also required to provide proof of successful sea trials before returning to the United States.

MSC Michigan VII was placed in detention after losing propulsion on June 5, 2024, due to a disconnection in the vessel’s control linkage for the main engine governor, which rendered the propulsion control systems inoperable, USCG said. The investigation into this disconnection is ongoing.

The MSC Michigan VII’s next port of call will be Freeport, Bahamas.

The loss of propulsion raised concerns and led to the closure of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston. The incident, which occurred as the vessel was outbound from the North Charleston Container Terminal, prompted local law enforcement to shut down vehicle traffic and evacuate Fort Moultrie Beach. This was done as a precautionary measure, mirroring recent events in Baltimore where similar issues associated with power failure on a large container ship resulted in a tragic bridge collapse.