Time is running out for a Southeast Asian container ship line that has been involved with operations here over two separate periods.
Last November, MISC Berhad announced it would be pulling the plug on its container line business in June 2012.
Malaysia's biggest shipping company, it was incorporated in Kuala Lumpur in 1968 as the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad.
In 2006, the title was changed to the abbreviated form of MISC Berhad.
MISC is a big player in the petroleum tanker and liquefied natural gas transport market, and in the liner (container) sector has operated up to 20 owned and chartered ships from time to time.
Last January, MISC announced it would refocus its container division and size up how to rid itself of unprofitable assets.
However, due to the deterioration of conditions of box rates worldwide, it has had a change of mind and made the decision to exit the container trades by next month.
Over the past three years, MISC has lost $US789 million ($NZ1 billion).
And in pulling out of container shipping completely, it will take a hit of $US400 million, an estimate of what it will cost to end contracts and dispose of assets.
The company's Bunga-named ships first appeared here when Bunga Terasek berthed on February 6, 2000, to inaugurate a new service to Southeast Asia.
Over the next two months it was joined by Bunga Kenari and Bunga Delima.
They were three of four 17,215gt, 1234 TEU sister ships built in 1990-91 at Keelung by the China Shipbuilding Company.
The only other owned unit of the fleet seen here was the larger 21,335gt, 1725 TEU Bunga Teratai 4 , built at the Daewoo yard in 1998.
This vessel was the second-last to call in a short-lived link that ended on July 7, 2001, with 36 visits from the four ships.
In more recent times, MISC has been sharing in a service to Tanjung Pelepas with the Maersk Line.
Changes to the tonnage employed started nearly two years ago when the charters of the Offen-owned 4112 TEU vessels ended.
They were replaced by four 4132 TEU Liberian-flag vessels chartered from the Oltmann group, Maersk's Dabou, Danville, Dunbar and Duncan.
The last mentioned was the second to call, on August 20, 2010.
But on its next visit on September 17, 2010, and on charter from Maersk, it was sporting MISC funnel markings and the name Bunga Raya Dua Belas.
The 41.359gt ship made a further 10 visits under that name, the last on July 21, 2011.
By then the quartet was being phased out.
It was replaced by vessels of about 2800 TEU on a rejigged service that has already had 21 vessels appear here, some only once.
AS Carelia and Passat Spring took over from the chartered MISC vessels slot, but they were last here in January.
Among MISC disposals, last month, were Bunga Delima and its other sister ship Bunga Bidara.
They each realised about $US 3.7 million when sold to Indian shipbreakers at Alang.
Pacific Vega, in port last week, is the second tanker seen here recently in the colours of Japan's large NYK group.
Like last month's visitor, Scarlet Ibis, it was also on its first visit.
This 30,411gt, 46,719dwt vessel, sailing under the flag of Panama, was delivered by Iwagi Zosen on January 23, 2004.
Registered to the ownership of Scarlet Marittima Shipholding SA, it is managed from Japan by the parent company.
Pacific Vega is a smaller, newer 28,049gt, 45,951dwt vessel completed by Shin Kurushima on June 8, 2010.
Owned by NYK Bulkship (Asia) Pte Ltd, it is managed by NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd.
Despite its links, the tanker is registered at Nassau in the Bahamas.
