No 6 Anchorage

From left to right, lying at No 6 Anchorage to the north of the Great Cumbrae is the blue-hulled Maersk Line container ship MAERSK BEAUMONT, which arrived on Saturday 2nd May. Heading down the Forth of Clyde Channel is the tanker PRIMO STEALTH, which having completed her discharge at Finnart was heading for Brodick Bay, where she anchored. The vessel on the right is SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE, newly arrived today from Falmouth and which has joined her newer fleetmate for lay-up. She was built in 1985 as AMERICAN WASHINGTON for United States Lines, and joined the Maersk fleet a number of years later when Sealand, who had acquired her in 1987, was taken over by the Danish-based company. Remaining for the time being under the US flag, the 58,869 tonne deadweight ship could carry 4,614 TEU containers. The general downturn in shipping has led to Maersk Line announcing that they are to lay up a number of vessels - some reports suggest as many as 25 ships, which would represent around 8% of the company's capacity. Both Maersk vessels are due to move to Loch Striven shortly.