MSC Dymphna Comes to Baltimore August 16, 2020

This 274x40m (899x131ft) Panama flagged container ship was built in 1996 by Hyundai Heavy Industries for Hyundai Merchant Marine and named Hyundai Discovery with a capacity of 5,551 TEU and 390 reefers according to scheepvaartwest.

According to scheepvaartwest she changed hands at some point. It is difficult to say exactly when since the dates of names are overlapping. She became the MSC Discovery. During this period there was a case against MSC for the loss of items in a container in 2004. Interestingly the ship is addressed as the MSC Dymphna.

She became the Hyundai Discovery again (dates unknown because of above issue). She suffered a collision during 2013 with another container ship, the ACX Hibiscus, in the Singapore Strait according to this report.

While again wearing the MSC Dymphna name she suffered a tragedy in 2017 while docked at Puerto de La Luz, Las Palmas, when the cook accidentally fell overboard while disposing of garbage according to this Maritime bulletin article.

It would be interesting to learn what caused this ship to change hands between these two companies this number of times.

I found a two part engine room tour from when she was wearing the Hyundai Discovery name in 2009: Part 1, Part 2. The camera work isn’t great but it is still interesting to see the sights and hear the sounds.

She can be seen passing outbound under the Verrazano Narrows bridge in New York in this 2014 video. This video from 2015 shows a closeup of her bow from a tugboat. This 2017 video shows her in Germany.

In my almost 12 minute video below the pilot boat Maryland can be seen heading out to greet this big ship as she passes through a bit of rain. A sharp eye can see pilots going up the side of the ship as she approaches. A colorful assortment of containers can be seen aboard. Her paint is showing signs of aging but she looks to be in good shape for a ship of her age. After she passes under the Key Bridge the tug Patrick McAllister appears alongside and tug April Moran follows behind the ship ready to help the ship to dock at Seagirt Marine Terminal under the cranes waiting beyond in the final scene.

You can view my photography (more than just ships!) here and more videos here.