Star Grip Comes to Baltimore May 24, 2020

This 198x29m (650x95ft) gantry crane general cargo ship was built in 1986 by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding in Ichihara, Japan according to Maritime Connector. She is a G-Class ship owned by Bergen, Norway based Grieg Star which is a member of G2 Ocean which is a joint venture between them and Gearbulk. She is slightly smaller than the more recently built Star Kinn which was seen coming to Baltimore May 4, 2019.

Being the oldest active cargo ship I have so far seen I expected more news items on this ship but was able to find two, one from 2010 when this ship was the first to make use of a new heavy lift crane in the Port of Mobile. Click here to read about it. The second from 2018 when she broke loose from her mooring in Brake, Germany. See the second item in this article to read about it.

In this video from 2013 it looks like changes have been made to the gantry crane some time between then and now. Also check out this drone video of this ship from earlier this year which includes some video of the friendly crew!

In my video below she can be seen approaching on the Patapsco River after having sailed up the Chesapeake Bay. As she nears the passing tug Capt. Ted can be seen pushing a loaded barge. The pilot boat Vedette is alongside. Although she appears unladen but for 4 containers her position in the water suggests a cargo down below. For a 34 year old ship she looks to be in good shape. In the scene following the Key Bridge pass the tug Annebelle Dorothy Moran moves into position to assist. In the next scene where the container ship Maersk Yukon can be seen being unloaded the tug Pearl Coast passes.

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