Korea's Hyundai Mipo yard detained 6,600-TEU CMA CGM vessel

HYUNDAI Mipo shipyard detained CMA CGM vessel for less than 48 hours from October 18, releasing the Bizet, a 6,600-TEU ship said to be deployed on its Epic service linking Europe to Middle East, Pakistan and India with no calls to Asian ports, reports American Shipper.

The French carrier denied the detention of the Bizet was related to an ongoing dispute with Korean Exim Bank on ship financing and on newbuildings ordered from South Korean shipyards now valued at less than loans given.

CMA CGM said the issue has been settled but would not comment if this related to the contract for four vessels from the shipyard, a contract that CMA CGM later assumed. "The issue (with Hyundai Mipo shipyard) has been the subject of disagreement since 2005, and has nothing to do with discussions with any banks or other parties," the carrier added.

Further mystery surrounds the vessel's employment with ComPair Data conflicting with carrier's information that the Bizet is no longer deployed on the Epic service but rather on the Maersk Line-Safmarine-CMA CGM AE3/BEX service.

A Busan Port spokesman was unable to confirm the detention of a vessel and the line did not clarify which port it was heading to Busan and from once released.

(Source: www.schednet.com)