Morning Catherine on the Loop - updated

The auto carrier Morning Catherine was last here November 19, 2023. I can't trace all of its movements in the intervening year and a half of more, but it seems likely that the ship has been most of the way around the world at least once if not twice. 

When it arrived this afternoon, June 23, from Philadelphia, it had crossed the Pacific Ocean twice, just since April. Starting from calls in Fort de France, April 12, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Kingston and Nassau April 19,it was photographed in the Panama Canal April 23. It was next reported in Pyeongtaek, Korea May 16, Masan May 20 and Ulsan May 21.It cleared the Panama Canal again in the early part of June, arriving in Brunswick, GA October 18. (That is a passage of 9,736.75 miles according to one source.) Then arrived in Philadelphia October 21.

 

It is only fairly recently that Asian-built cars have been arriving on the east coast of North America. Port congesiton on the west coast is given as a reason, but there is also congestion in the Panama Canal, with a record number of transits in May and early June.

The ship has not declared a destination after Halifax, and it is anyone's guess whether it will head for Europe or retrace its steps to Asia.

Morning Catherine was built in 2008 by Imabari Zosen, Marugame, and is registered at 61,001 gt, 22,678 dwt with a capacity of 6458 CEU.

Update 2025-06-24:

The ship sailed from Auport on June 24 and gave Cristobal, Panama as its next port of call.   

 

. 

Morning Catherine

 The EUKOR car carrier Morning Catherine arrived this morning, November 19, for Autoport. I believe this is the first time it has called in Halifax. Until this trip it was operating in the far east and Africa. After leaving Mombassa September 29 it called in Dar Es Salam, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Abidjan, then after Dakar, Senegal on October 26 it made calls in Zeebrugge November 4-6, Emden November 7 and Bremerhaven November 8-10. The ship's next scheduled port is New York.

The Morning Catherine was built in 2008 by Imabari Zosen in Marugame, Japan. It is a 61,001 gt, 22,678 dwt ship with a capacity of 6458 cars (some sources say 6502). As stated in a previous post there is high demand for auto carriers in the far east, and it seems likely that the largest ships of the type will be serving those routes whereas ships of this size - which are not the largest - may be seen more often on transatlantic routes. 

From the plume of water vapour emanating from the funnel area, it appears that the ship is equipped with an exhaust gas scrubber system. Some auto makers, particularly Volkswagen, are demanding more energy efficiency and pollution reduction on ships that they use. 

From recent reports it appears that the ship was operating on a lease from the Japanese company Excel Marine to Wilhelmsen Lines, but during the first quarter of 2023 it was purchased outright by Wilhlemsen. Since Wilhelmsen is a part owner of Eukor, the ship may remain in Eukor service and if so will not likely change its name or colour scheme. 

.