UBC Tarragaona at PSA

 An unusual caller arrived at PSA Fairview Cove on Monday, December 23. The UBC Tarragona is classed as a multi-purpose / dry cargo vessel and is not rated for carrying containers. However once alongside the dock it proceeded to unload containers from number 2 hold (there did not appear to be any boxes on deck).

 The 24,140 gt, 37,706 dwt ship was built in 2009 by Saiki Heavy Industries (Jukogyo) in Saiki, Japan and carries three 36 tonne SWL cranes and three 12 cbm electro-hydraulic grabs (stowed forward on number one hatch cover.)

UBC, which stands for United Bulk Carriers, headquartered in Philadelphia, calls the ship a bulk carrier. Its hull is double skinned so that the holds are the same size as the hatches (which is termed "open hatch") with ventilated box shaped holds, strengthened for heavy cargoes.

Judging from the ship's draft, it is not carrying heavy cargo, and in fact the containers may be empty. Tracing the ship's movements for the past month, it does not seem that the ship was on any known container line route. It sailed from Haiphong October 25 and after clearing the Straits of Malacca called in Sriracha, Thailand October 30 to November 4. It then appears to have sailed directly via the Cape of Good Hope to Charleston, arriving December 13 and sailing December 15 for Dundalk Terminal in Baltimore, arriving December 18. It sailed from there December 20.

At the end of the regular work day, Secember 23, the ship moved out to anchor in Bedford Basin where it will likely remain until the resumption of work after the Christmas break.

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