From a distance, I thought a tarp covered the outside of this container,
but as it approached, it was clearly
a ruptured wall.
What amazes me more than seeing this on Maersk Vallvik is that I haven’t seen damaged containers before this time.
A further surprise, though, is that according to the “port history” printed on this link, this vessel is in Cape Town today. . . . Curiouser and curiouser.
All fotos today by Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
15 comments
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March 9, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Davd Hindin
Trust but verify ;>))
Your link:
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1484636
AIS Information
Last known position:
40°41’9.96” N, 74°9’16.2” W
Status: Underway
Speed, course (heading):
0kts, 159° (129°)
Destination:
Location: Capetown
Arrival: 9th Mar 2013
04:00:40 UTC
Last update:
15 seconds ago
40°41’9.96” N, 74°9’16.2” W maps to here:
http://goo.gl/maps/03Wiv
For reliable current data:
http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=564837000
Recent:
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?zoom=9&oldmmsi=564837000&olddate=3/10/2013%201:51:00%20AM
Cheers
March 9, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Davd Hindin
Added:
The ship may not have properly updated its AIS destination/ETA fields
From MarineTrafiic link above:
Voyage Related Info (Last Received)
Draught: 10.2 m
Destination: CAPETOWN
ETA: 2013-03-09 04:00
Info Received: 2013-03-10 02:10 (0d, 1h 56min ago)
This is a common occurrence in AIS land
March 10, 2013 at 8:43 am
Carl.G.Schuster
On Sat, Mar 9, 2013 at 4:25 PM, tugster: a waterblog wrote:
> ** > tugster posted: “From a distance, I thought a tarp covered the outside > of this container, but as it approached, it was clearly a ruptured wall. > What amazes me more than seeing this on Maersk Vallvik is that I haven’t > seen damaged containers before thi” There is a story in this.R I hope > that you will put your substantial research tools to work on this, and > share the results with you readers. Thanks for sharing. Carl Schuster >
>
March 10, 2013 at 9:55 am
tugster
carl– thanks. i will make an attempt.
March 10, 2013 at 11:57 am
Freightboy1
Regarding AIS- these services want people to subscribe, so they may be showing wrong info. Hopefully, Maersk vessel is updating its AIS- it would be “Page 6” material if not.
March 10, 2013 at 12:56 pm
David Hindin
I compare MarineTraffic.com and locally received realtime AIS here in the San Francisco area on a regular basis.
MarineTraffic.com generally reflects what the ship is sending in its type-5 (SHIP STATIC AND VOYAGE RELATED DATA) message
The Voyage Related Data is entered or selected by crew as the voyage progresses, providing an opportunity for error.
From http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISFAQ
“Shipboard AIS units autonomously broadcast two different AIS messages: a ‘position report’ which includes the vessels dynamic data (e.g. latitude, longitude, position accuracy, time, course, speed, navigation status); and, a ‘static and voyage related report’ which includes data particular to the vessel (e.g. name, dimensions, type) and regarding its voyage (e.g. static draft, destination, and ETA).”
Maersk Vallvik is headed to Baltimore as I write this.
http://goo.gl/Be3kN
Compare with the latest destination shown here:
http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=564837000
“Capetown”
More details:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISmain
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISMessages
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISMessagesAStatic
March 10, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Freightboy1
One more comment re AIS- the geographical coordinates are correct (if the ship is indeed in New York/ New Jersey). At the AIS service- they may have a geolocation database, which matches a port with the coordinates from the AIS. So, they probably turned off the linkage to the geolocation database. Page 6 will need to find some other story- Maersk vessel is doing what it’s supposed to do- the AIS service is asleep at the switch (or perhaps “asleep at the link”)
March 10, 2013 at 1:21 pm
David Hindin
“Maersk vessel is doing what it’s supposed to do”
From above:
Maersk Vallvik is headed to Baltimore as I write this.
http://goo.gl/Be3kN
Compare with the latest destination shown here:
http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=564837000
“Capetown”
March 10, 2013 at 2:26 pm
David Hindin
Perhaps a connected Freightboy1 could arrange a call to MAERSK VALLVIK to suggest an update of AIS Destination and ETA fields to reflect the Baltimore port call. I will post the change if it occurs
March 10, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Freightboy1
@David Connected though I might be, the mighty Maersk knows more than I do, so freightboy1 will not be the one who straightens them out. I did go on other AIS services and noted the “CAPETOWN” destination. I am not familiar with the technology behind receipt and then re-transmission of all the data fields from AIS by Marinetraffic.com and its peers. Just a guess on my paret: a real time feed (ie the position in New York and then on the way to Baltimore) may take precedence over a manually tnterd field.
March 10, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Davd Hindin
@Freightboy1, It was worth a shot (or a call) . Thanks
March 10, 2013 at 8:28 pm
David Hindin
Late breaking news: MAERSK VALLVIK now showing Destination: Baltimore
Divine intervention or tugster community prod?
Chorus: “Hallelujah” – YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzOQFpGPYE
At about (13-03-11 00:28 UTC) (3/10 20:28 EDST) (3/10 17:28 PDST) MAERSK VALLVIK was showing Destination: Baltimore while just passing over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel ( http://goo.gl/maps/hK2HQ ) The ETA is still erroneous at 2013-03-10 20:00 (UTC).
http://goo.gl/fuYrZ
Flag: Singapore
Ship Type: Cargo – Hazard A (Major)
Status: Underway
Speed/Course: 17.9 kn / 313˚
Length x Breadth: 180 m X 28 m
Draught: 9 m
Destination: BALTIMORE
ETA: 2013-03-10 20:00 (UTC)
Received (1159): 0h 2min ago
(AIS Source: coinjock)
http://goo.gl/bfWPU
The vessel details page had not been updated as yet:
http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=564837000&header=true
March 10, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Freightboy1
@David “there is no such thing as coincidence”. This is social media’s power, at its best, so a big shoutout to Tugster. My guess is that the guys from Maersk are monitoring all kinds of maritime blogs in real time (possibly unlike the folks working the AIS on our favorite blue vessel, maybe) and somebody picked up the discussion. When I have some time, I would like to clarify what the rules are surrounding the “destination” field. It gets manually updated, that I know- but I wonder what the legalities are regarding duty to update it and keep it accurate.
March 10, 2013 at 10:02 pm
David Hindin
Last word:
The vessel details page has been updated:
http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=564837000&header=true
Voyage Related Info (Last Received)
Draught: 9 m
Destination: BALTIMORE
ETA: 2013-03-10 20:00
Info Received: 2013-03-11 02:10 (0d, 0h 16min ago)
March 11, 2013 at 3:48 pm
David Hindin
Epilogue:
MAERSK got the word.
MAERSK VALLVIK just departed BALTIMORE showing a destination of NORFOLK as scheduled.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=564837000&header=true
The Voyage Related Info (Last Received) info on this page (Vessel details) may be delayed (Note to marine traffic.com posted)
Was showing:
Draught: 9 m
Destination: BALTIMORE
ETA: 2013-03-10 20:00
Info Received: 2013-03-11 18:10 (0d, 2h 6min ago)
________________________________________
Use the “Current Vessels Track” link on that page to get the most up to date destination.
Speed/Course: 8.4 kn / 111˚
Length x Breadth: 180 m X 28 m
Draught: 9.3 m
Destination: NORFOLK
ETA: 2013-03-12 04:30 (UTC)
Also:
Links to “Show Vessel’s Track” appear to have timely destination data.
Finally I apologize to Will for hijacking the thread with the AIS minutiae.
The original container damage is still of interest