Delivered into Newport Docks on board the MV Jumbo Spirit in June 2002, 66709 first went into service with GBRf in the original GBRf livery and named as 'Joseph Arnold Davies', before switching to the GBRf/Medite shipping livery of black bodysides with yellow Medite lettering and branding.

In 24 April 2012, 66709 was rebranded in the Mediterranean Shipping Company's livery, featuring a large container ship image on an otherwise light blue bodyside and, on the following day, the locomotive was renamed as 66709 Sorrento, honouring the home town of MSC founder Mr Aponte.