#BargeScrubbers – In order to meet new environmental requirements a number of ships are being fitted with catalytic exhaust ‘scrubber’ systems or plugging into shore-based electrical grids. Ships Monthly, however reports that in California, where exhaust emission regulations are exceedingly severe, a barge-mounted scrubbing system has been brought into play for ships not yet fitted with the devices.

For more details on the barge as seen photographed alongside a containership at the Port of Long Beach, click here. This containership is one of around 470 operated by the MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) Ltd, the second largest container line in the world.

Afloat adds, that MSC (Ireland) which operates a feeder weekly Dublin-Antwerp service, is where the Belgium port is a major transhipment hub for worldwide trade lanes. An example of one of their containerships that has called to Dublin Port is MSC Lieselotte (1983/21,586grt) and when in Antwerp, she berths at the Delwedok.

Considerably larger fleetmates berth at the port's MSC Home Terminal, this dedicated terminal at the Delwaide Dock is MSC’s north European hubport.

In total the MSC fleet intake capacity is over 2.4 million TEU. The company has 421 offices in 145 countries and a staff of 30,000 around the world.

For the third consecutive year, MSC (UK) won the prestigious ‘Container Line of the Year’ award at the 2015 Lloyd’s Loading List Global Freight Awards that were held last month.