Asian King - takes escort tug

The pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Asian King took an escort tug on the way in this afternoon. This is the second time in as many days that an escort tug has been used for a non-typical ship. Perhaps in this case it was for pilot training or due to high wind. In any event, once inside Meagher's Beach the Atlantic Oak cast off the stern line and joined Atlantic Willow alongside for a normal berthing position.
Asian King is a member of the 46 strong EUKOR fleet of car carriers, based in South Korea.
Established in 2002 by Hyundai Merchant Marine, EUKOR (EUrope KORea) ships transport Hyundai/Kia vehicles from Korea, Turkey and India to Europe, but also transpacific to the US, and up the east coast, also around Africa. Long associated with the Wilhelmsen organization (the ship is actually managed by Wilhelmsen's Korean ship management arm.) It also carries other brands of vehicles in a sharing arrangement with Wallenius-Wilhelmsen, such as this trip, operating on a regular Wallenius-Wilhlemsen route from  Bremerhaven, Gothenburg, Zeebrugge, Southampton, Halifax and on to the US east coast, carrying north European cars.
Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan in 1998 the ship is rated for 6,628 CEUs on 55,729 gross tons. It has four hoistable decks, allowing it to carry cars and oversized vehicles.