MSC Chitra caused no problems on its 13 visits to Port Chalmers from February 3, 2007, to November 25, 2008.
But it was a different story when the 30-year-old container ship was departing from Mumbai shortly after 9.30am, nine days ago.
It was in a collision with the bulk carrier Khalijia 3, a major and costly incident that closed down India's two largest port facilities, Mumbai itself and the adjacent Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust's (JNPT) container terminal.
It was hoped both ports would reopen for traffic again yesterday.
A preliminary report said the former local visitor was outward bound from the JNPT terminal and was proceeding correctly in the main navigation channel.
The bulk carrier, which had recently been salvaged from a three-week grounding, was proceeding into port still under the control of professional salvors.
This vessel had left its anchored position, crossed the fairway ahead of the southbound MSC Chitra, then turned to port in a northbound direction.
It then continued turning in this direction, came back to cross the fairway again and struck the container ship on the port side.
There were no communications between the vessels, which were using different VHF channels.
And while Khalijia 3 with extensive bow damage made it into port, the plight of MSC Chitra was far more critical.
As a result of the impact, it developed a list of more than 70 degrees to port and grounded within Mumbai port limits near the Prong Reef lighthouse.
As a result, more than 250 containers fell into the sea and about 350-400 tonnes of oil is estimated to have spilled from two of the vessel's 12 tanks.
This flow ceased after efforts to stabilise the ship were successful.
Meanwhile, massive cleanup operations have been under way, with vessels employed removing the resultant oil slick and recovering the containers that pose serious threats to safe navigation around the area.
Oil is being pumped out of the vessel and containers will be removed using a crane placed on a barge and then to the JNPT terminal.
However, it could be six to eight months before the ship can be refloated and towed away.
The ship was bought by the Mediterranean Shipping Company in 2004 and was registered at Panama to the ownership of Compania Naviera Chitra S. A.
At 33,113gt, total container capacity was 2314teu, but at the time of last week's collision it was only carrying 1219.
Ordered from the IHI yard at Kure by Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines, it was launched as Neptune Crystal on September 21, 1979.
The ship started trading in February 1980, and from 1998-2004 also served under the names NOL Crystal, APL Crystal and Crystal I.
Khalijia 3 is a 25,525gt, 45,798dwt bulk carrier completed in May 1985, by the Verolme shipyard at Angra dos Reis, Brazil.
It served as Al Noor until 1991, then as Almavita until 2004 when it was bought by Gulf Rocks KSC of Kuwait and given its present name.
They transferred the vessel from the flag of Kuwaiti to that of St Kitts and Nevis two years ago.
The collision affected the departure of 15 ships and the arrival of 41, including 22 waiting at offshore anchorages.
Included in the total of 56 ships were 18 at the JNPT complex, nine each way, an unprecedented situation for a port that handles 60% of the country's container traffic.
Sabrewing, due for the first time this week, is a 15.3-knot, 29,547gt, 49,323dwt tanker that has been in service since January 2004.
The 188m-long tanker was constructed by the Naikai yard at Setoda for operation under the flag of Panama by New Glory Shipping S. A.
And an update on Maersk Damascus after its phasing out from the New Zealand trade at Singapore earlier this month: the ship is now operating under its Offen-built name, Santa Romana.
