Disabled freighter Samarga towed to Donghae, Japan sea　12/27/12 (Maritime Bulletin)
Reportedly, disabled Russian freighter Samarga arrived to Donghae port, South Korea, on tow of salvage tug Lazurit in the morning Dec 28.

Russian freighter Samarga disabled in Japan sea

Russian general cargo vessel Samarga issued distress signal in Japan sea, presumably early in the morning Dec 24, or earlier, during Dec 23. Vessel is en route from Busan to Vladivostok with cargo of cars, and suffered engine failure. Russian media as usual, is confusing in its’ news, some say vessel is disabled, some say vessel suffered total blackout. Reportedly, there was some cargo shift. Weather northern wind 12-15 meters/sec, sea 2-2.5 meters, so there is no imminent danger to vessel and crew. Salvage tug Lazurit left Vladivostok early Dec 24 and is steaming to the disabled vessel, nearby freighter Limanskiy (IMO 8423612) is standing by. Vessel actually, was disabled earlier than Dec 23-24, last known satellite data at 19:30 UTC Dec 22 gives position 39 33N 130 31E, and speed 2 knots, meaning by that time vessel was already disabled and drifting, or moving at low speed. General cargo vessel Samarga IMO 8501402, dwt 7130, built 1987, flag Cambodia, manager Natie Shipping, Vladivostok, Russia.

Distressed Samarga is to be towed to Donghae, Japan sea

Salvage tug Lazurit arrived to distressed vessel Samarga in the morning Dec 25, and is trying to take freighter on tow. Vessel is to be towed to South Korean port Donghae, which is some 160 nm off, see map. The weather is deteriorating, wind strengthened to 18 meters/sec. Vessel issued distress signal at 15:58 UTC Dec 23 from position 39-52N 130-39E, suffering total blackout.

North Korean safe waters are much closer to the distressed vessel, but North Korean waters are safe from the weather, but not from the ruling regime, and are in fact, more risky for a distressed vessel, than winter storm in Japan sea. More often, than not, vessels in distress which have to find refuge in North Korea are detained under the pretext of “investigation”, or in other words, for extorting money from owner, being also subject to possible political speculations, depending on the owner State. While it goes on, local authorities sweep vessel and crew clean of any supplies they can find.

Freighter Samarga still drifting, part of deck cargo went overboard

Freighter Samarga is still drifting with salvage tug Lazurit standing by. Towage still impossible due to strong wind and heavy sea. 8 excavators went overboard, most probably intentionally released by the crew in order to improve stability, vessel was badly rolling with angle up to 36 degrees. The rest of the cargo, cars and general cargo, is stable. NW wind was up to 25 meters/sec, weather forecast for Dec 26 is favourable, wind NW to W from 30 to 15 knots, sea from 5 meters to 2.5 meters.

Freighter Samarga under tow to Donghae, Japan sea

Disabled general cargo vessel Samarga was taken under tow in the afternoon Dec 26 by a salvage tug Lazurit, Japan sea. Samarga is to be towed to Donghae, South Korea. Weather is favourable, with moderate wind and sea, ETA Donghae Dec 28 12.

タンカー乗組員が転落死　航行中の高所作業で 12/24/12（産経新聞）

　２４日午前８時半ごろ、鹿児島県・徳之島の東海上を航行していたタンカーありあけ丸（２万８０８５トン）で、高所作業中の男性乗組員１人が甲板に転落し、意識がないと第１０管区海上保安本部（鹿児島）に連絡があった。

　１０管によると、乗組員は金沢市の吉田一郎さん（５６）で、搬送先の病院で死亡が確認された。高さ約５メートルの場所から後ろ向きに落ち、頭を強く打った。当時、現場海域はやや風が強かったという。

　タンカーは東京の海運会社が所有。小名浜港（福島県いわき市）から那覇港（那覇市）に向け航行中だった。

Listing General Cargo Ship Abandoned Off Taiwan, Captain Missing 12/18/12（MaritimeSecurity.Asia）

The Captain of a Hong Kong-flagged general cargo ship loaded with logs went missing on Saturday after his vessel began to list dangerously and lost power in high winds and heavy seas off the northern coast of Taiwan.

According to local media reports, the 7,716 DWT cargo ship, New Lucky III, was cruising some 35 nautical miles off the coast of Bali when it was battered by huge waves, causing the vessel to list and forcing the crew to send out a distress signal at about 12:50 p.m. local time. A search and rescued operation by Taiwan’s National Search and Rescue Command center led to the rescue of 16 crew members, but the Filipino Captain is said to have been swept overboard during the operation and is still missing.

The rescued crew includes 3 Chinese, 3 Filipinos and 10 Indonesians, who are currently being kept in Keelung, Taiwan.

The New Lucky III is believed to still be adrift and posing a threat to navigation. Initial reports indicate that the vessel began listing after the logs shifted with the rolling of the ship.

貨物船、カキいかだ壊す　海保　容疑で１等航海士を逮捕　広島沖 12/16/12（産経新聞）

　広島海上保安部は１５日、広島市南区似島町の沖合でカキいかだを壊したとして、業務上過失往来危険の疑いで、福岡県博多港に入港しているカンボジア船籍の貨物船「チャンシン」（１２９２トン、９人乗り組み）の１等航海士（３１）＝ミャンマー国籍＝を逮捕した。

　同保安部によると、いかだが壊されているのが見つかったのは１２日未明。いかだに赤茶色の塗料が付着しており、同保安部は船舶が壊したとみて捜査していた。塗料が１１日夕、広島港を出港した同船の塗膜と一致したという。乗組員は中国人７人、ミャンマー人２人。

かきいかだ壊す　航海士逮捕 12/16/12（NHK）

今月１２日、広島市南区の弁天島近くの瀬戸内海で、かきの養殖用のいかだが壊された事故で、広島海上保安部は、いかだに衝突して壊したとして当時、付近を航行していたカンボジア籍の貨物船の航海士を業務上過失往来危険の疑いで逮捕しました。

逮捕されたのは、カンボジア籍の貨物船、「ＣＨＵＮＸＩＮＧ」の航行の指揮をしていた、ミャンマー人の１等航海士、アウン・トゥ・ウー容疑者（３１）です。

この事故は、今月１２日の朝、広島市南区の弁天島近くの瀬戸内海で、かきの養殖用のいかだあわせて１７台が壊されたり、流されたりしているのが見つかったものです。

海上保安部では、当時、付近を航行していた大型船がかきいかだに衝突したとみて、捜査を進めた結果、カンボジア籍の貨物船、「ＣＨＵＮＸＩＮＧ」が浮かび上がり、この船の塗料が、壊されたいかだに付着していた塗料と一致したということです。

このため、海上保安部では、この船がいかだに衝突したと断定し、航行を指揮していたアウン航海士を、業務上過失往来危険の疑いで逮捕しました。

海上保安部では、今後、アウン航海士を取り調べ、事故当時の状況や原因について詳しく調べることにしています。

11 seafarers rescued 12/11/12（ihs.com）

THE CREW of a Chinese-flagged cargo ship have rescued 11 seafarers who were sent overboard as their ship sank.

Cambodia-flagged general cargo ship Dong Sheng sank in foul weather on the afternoon of 22 December in the Yellow Sea.

It had been transporting 2,000 tonnes of steel heading to Yangtai, China, from Pyongtaek, South Korea, when 7,358dwt capsized because of displacement of cargo in the storm.

“The ship came across strong winds and waves at that time,” Shan Dehu, its captain, told reporters. “We made efforts when cargo displacement happened, but did not work out.”

Hai Zhi Da, a 3,300dwt, China-flagged general cargo ship was nearby. Its crew used rope ladders to rescue the mariners, all Chinese, from waves 2m high.

11 Chinese sailors rescued in Yellow Sea 12/11/12（YONHAP NEWS）

INCHEON, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- Eleven Chinese sailors were rescued from their cargo ship that was tilting in South Korean waters near the border with North Korea, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.

The Cambodian-flagged 1,996-ton freighter sent out a distress signal at around 5:40 p.m. as it was listing on its right side about 56 kilometers south of Daecheong Island, it said.

The Coast Guard said it immediately dispatched a helicopter and a patrol boat to the scene but the sailors had already been rescued by a passing freighter.

The Chinese sailors rescued were in good health, it said.

The freighter carrying steel products was en route from South Korea's western port of Daesan to China, the Coast Guard said.

The cause of the apparent accident has yet to be investigated, it said.

(END)

砂利運搬船上で爆発 １人死亡３人けが 12/11/12（NHK）

１１日午前７時すぎ、大阪市内を流れる大川に停泊していた砂利の運搬船で爆発があり、消防によりますと、男性１人が死亡、３人が重軽傷を負いました。 船長は、「プロパンガスが爆発した」と話しているということで、警察と消防が詳しい状況を調べています。

１１日午前７時すぎ、大阪・北区長柄東の大川にかかる「毛馬橋」のたもとに停泊していた砂利の運搬船で、突然爆発が起きました。 消防によりますと、船は爆発で激しく壊れて一部が吹き飛び、船に乗っていた男性１人が死亡したほか、男性３人が重軽傷を負ったということです。 現場は、多くの砂利の運搬船などが停泊している場所で、ＮＨＫのヘリコプターから撮影した映像では、船室の一部が爆発でめくれ上がったような様子が確認できます。 近くのマンションに住む男性は、「突然ドーンという音がして、窓がバリバリと揺れた。外を見ると、船が大きく壊れているのが見えた。周辺の住宅や道路には、部品や油などが飛び散っていた」と話していました。 消防によりますと、船の船長は、「積んでいたプロパンガスが爆発した」と話しているということで、警察と消防が詳しい状況を調べています。

貨物船座礁事故、中国人船長に罰金２０万円 12/07/12（読売新聞）

　静岡県牧之原市の相良港沖でカンボジア船籍の貨物船が座礁した事故で、静岡区検は５日、中国国籍で住所不定、同船長林孝波容疑者（４２）を業務上過失往来危険罪で静岡簡裁に略式起訴した。

　同簡裁は同日、罰金２０万円の略式命令を出した。

　略式命令によると、林容疑者は９月３０日、台風１７号の接近で船が海岸方向に流される危険があったのに、船を移動させるなどの事故防止策を怠って座礁させ、船舶の航行に危険を生じさせた。

Baltic Ace shipwreck to cost insurers up to $60m 12/07/12 (Cargonews Asia）

The Baltic Ace cargo vessel that sank in the North Sea on Wednesday night is insured for between US$50 million and $60 million, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, reported Reuters.

The lead insurer for the vessel is Catlin, operator of the biggest syndicate in the Lloyd's of London market, the sources said.

As lead insurer, Catlin's share of any claim would be between 10 and 15 percent, with the remainder split between a panel of other insurers, one of the sources said.

Catlin declined to comment.

As is common in the marine insurance market, the Baltic Ace's cargo of 1,400 cars, mostly Mitsubishis, is insured separately, as is any liability for environmental pollution or personal injury.

Insurance against pollution or injury is provided by the North of England Protection and Indemnity (P&I) club, one of a network of specialist marine underwriters owned by the shipping industry, two other sources said.

North of England P&I declined to comment.

At least five crew members died when the Baltic Ace sank after colliding with a container ship, the Corvus J, on Wednesday night. The Corvus J was damaged, but was able to resume its route, officials said.

The Baltic Ace shipwreck will add to an already heavy claims burden this year for the marine insurance industry, hit in January by a loss of around $1 billion, one of its biggest ever, after the Costa Concordia cruise liner ran aground off Italy.

Baltic Ace Sinking: What You Need to Know Right Now 12/07/12 (gCaptain）

By Tobias Pieffers, Local Correspondent

ROTTERDAM - The Dutch Coastguard has seized the search for the six crewmembers still missing after the sinking of car carrier Baltic Ace. They are assumed dead because of the bad weather conditions and cold water, and possibly the bodies are trapped inside the sunken vessel.

At the scene of the collision is the Dutch government owned hydrograpic research and oil spill response vessel M/V Arca. Arca’s crew has placed five cardinal buoys at the scene marking the location of the wreck. The vessel will stay at the scene to ensure safe traffic near the Baltic Ace.

The wreck forms an immediate danger to traffic. The vessel sunk in an incredibly busy area, just south of the beginning of the Eurogeul which leads to the port of Rotterdam. According to Mariska Verbeij, spokeswoman of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the Arca has conducted a small survey using it’s multi beam echo-sounder. “Due to bad weather conditions and limited amount of water above the wreck a more detailed survey using an external echo-sounder (called ‘the fish’ by the vessels crew) could not be conducted. But the images we’ve obtained so far show the vessel is intact.” The water depth at the scene is 36 meters, there’s only 6 meters of water between the Baltic Ace and the surface. This afternoon the Dutch Coastguard announced that the Arca will stay at the scene, al least until coming monday. “On monday a new assessment will be made deciding wether or not the Arca will have stay longer to guide traffic at the scene”, a spokesperson said.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment maintains contact with Baltic Ace owner Baltic Highway Piraeus regarding the salvage of the ship. “We are waiting for the owner to come up with a plan for salvaging the vessel, but this usually takes time.” Smit Salvage has offered ‘to help with the salvage of the Baltic Ace. “We’ve had contact with the insurance company and the owner of the vessel”, pressofficer Martijn Schuttevaer of Boskalis-Smit Salvage says. “With these kind of accidents the first to steps are the search and rescue of crewmembers and the removal of all oils within the ship. We are waiting for the Dutch government to decide wether they find salvage of the vessel necessary or not.”

On board the Baltic Ace were 1417 cars of the brand Mitsubishi. Some Dutch media report rumors that there were also some ferrari’s, Bentley’s, Rolls Royces’and Lamborghini’s on board.

Dutch media

Dutch newspapers are all reporting on the accident. In today’s copy off De Volkskrant 40 year old diver Jurrie Mulier of the 40th squadron of the Belgian air force tells how he rescued seven people that were floating around in a life raft. “The raft was dancing on the waves. The zippers of the raft were closed so we could not see wether there were people inside. I went down into the cold water and had to unleash myself from the helicopter to make sure Iwould not endanger it’s flight.” Inside the raft were seven crewmembers, the article states. Two of them were only wearing underwear. The raft was filled with cold water and all crewmembers were suffering severe hypothermia. “If we had arrived 30 minutes we would have been too late”, Mulier says. Mulier was lowered to the raft seven times to get all the crewmembers out.

Several newspapers report stories from fishermen who witnessed the sinking of the vessel. In De Telegraaf fisherman René Sperling tells how he heard the distress call on the radio. “The captain was panicking. We are sinking, we need help fast, I heard him shout. He sounded very emotional, upset.” Sperling assisted in the search and rescue operation but only found some empty rafts and vests and some driftwood.

In Algemeen Dagblad fishermen Wout Boelaars says he saw on the radar how the two vessels did not steer clear from each other but into each other. “The Corpus J was altering course to starboard while the Baltic Ace made a sharp turn to port.” According to him the collision is the result of a communication error.

Investigation

The Dutch police have announced they will not investigate the accident. “The accident happenend outside the 12 mile zone, the so called territorial waters, meaning we have no jurisdiction”, the police states on their website. “Another reason we will not investigate is that the vessels sail under flags of The Bahamas and Cyprus.” The Dutch police did direct the identification and slavaging of the victims. The Dutch Safety Board, an independent investigative bureau, has offered both countries their help with the investigation. “By international law. Both countries are compelled to investigate the accident”, the Safety Board writes on their website.

BALTIC ACE and CORVUS J collision 12/06/12（YouTube）

Baltic Ace death toll 12/07/12 (Maritime Bulletin）

The Baltic Ace was carrying some 1,400 Mitsubishi cars. The 24 crew included 11 Polish (including Captain), Bulgarian, Filipino and Ukrainian nationalities. 13 were rescued, among them 6 Polish nationalities including Captain. All survivors are expected to fully recover.
5 dead bodies were recovered so far, 6 remain missing with no hope of being alive, considering the circumstances. Dutch police identified the five victims whose bodies have been found as two Poles, aged 47 and 50; two Filipinos aged 30 and 51; and a 47-year-old Ukrainian.

The 4th engineer, 28-years old Polish nationality, was rescued by vessel operated by Harren & Partner Ship Management GmbH:
“Our vessel was on alert immediately after receiving collision information, being close to the collision position. Additional lookouts were put on bridge and forecastle, bosun who was on the lookout on forecastle heard the shouts, our vessel picked up a Baltic Ace survivor, 4th engineer, 28 years old Polish” – wrote to Maritime Bulletin Mr. Goncharov of Harren & Partner.

Letters from people who wrote to Maritime Bulletin sharing the info they know:
Dear Voytenko,
Baltic Ace shipwreck: Dutch coastguards call off search
The Polish embassy in the Netherlands has said that 11 of the 24 crew were from Poland. Six of them, including the captain, have been rescued. The rest of the crew came from the Philippines, Ukraine and Bulgaria. Best regards
Volker Helmers
Annette-Kolb-Str. 18
28215 Bremen
Germany

Stuart wrote: Hi having worked on the Corvus j on Monday don't know how many crew but they were Romanian, philipeano, and a polish captain.

Mr. Kiryazov worked on Baltic Ace some 3 months ago:
hello ,my name is Todor Kiryazov and i was abord Baltic ace 3 month ago . the nationality of the crew as you ask is mostly polish oficers as ,from the engine departmant is polish and ukraine (some time bulgarian too) and other workars on deck are from filipins ,and there was onboard also one bulgarian cadet.

Mr. Vassilev:
As per local media one of the rescued is a Bulgarian national, rank cadet. This was reportedly the only Bulgarian
Kind regards,
Ivan P VASSILEV
Marine and Cargo Surveyor

On photos Corvus J after the collision, the direction of bulb dent confirmed the collision reconstruction:
Animated reconstruction of Corvus J vs Baltic Ace collision
Web site VesselFinder made an animated reconstruction of the collision between Corvus J and Baltic Ace based on AIS positions. The short clip presents a clear picture of what happened.
http://www.vesselfinder.com/news/742-EXCLUSIVE-VIDEO-The-collision-between-BALTIC-ACE-and-CORVUS-J-AIS-Historical-Data
Corvus J didn’t give way to Baltic Ace as she should in accordance with The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and kept on her course. Baltic Ace was too late with her action to avoid the collision. Corvus J with her bulbous bow ripped the car-carrier open like a tin can. Car-carries with their huge cargo decks need not much time in case of deck flooding, to get unstable and capsize.
Voytenko Mikhail

Many thanks to all those who sent to MB the information they had.

Car Carrier Sinks Near Rotterdam After Collision, Casualties Reported – UPDATE 12/05/12（gCaptain）

Update 3: Five bodies have been recovered and six are still missing in the North Sea. AIS Data and damage photos of the Corvus J can be found here.

gCaptain’s FULL Coverage: Baltic Ace Sinking

Update 2: BBC has reported that the bodies of three crewmembers have been recovered and eight are still missing. Meanwhile the AP says that 4 bodies have been recovered, citing a Coast Guard official.

Update 1: Unofficial report from the scene…

“Car carrier has sunk, 13 crewmembers are rescued and brought to a nearby hospital. 11 still missing.. Two Dutch navy vessels, 2 helicopters and 2 SAR vessels from the KRNM are also searching for the rest of the crewmembers that are still 11 missing.”

We have been told that the car carrier sank quickly, possibly within 15 minutes.

Another unofficial report from the scene…

4 crew members have been brought to the Erasmus medical center in Rotterdam with mild wounds and hypothermia. 7 crewmembers were flown to Ostend in Belgium. 2 have been saved by the container vessel which collided with the car carrier and 11 are still unaccounted for. 3 helicopters, 2 navy vessels and several other vessels from the KNRM are searching. Also several merchant vessels are giving assistance in the search.

Original: A car carrier is sinking in the North Sea near Rotterdam after colliding with a containership Wednesday night.

The Bahamas-flagged car carrier Baltic Ace collided with the Cyprus-flagged containership Covus J after dark approximately 25 to 30 miles from Port of Rotterdam. The Baltic Ace is said to be sinking as a result of the collision and there may be as many as 24 crewmembers on board.

A rescue operation is currently underway. An unknown number of crew are being pulled from four life rafts by helicopter.

Reuters in the UK has reported that the Dutch coastguard said the Baltic Ace has “almost certainly has sunk.”

The Baltic Ace was en route from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka, Finland. The Corcus J was en route from Grangemouth (UK) to Antwerp.

三菱車１４１７台積んだ輸送船沈没、５人死亡 12/07/12（読売新聞）

　【ブリュッセル＝工藤武人】オランダからの報道などによると、同国ロッテルダム港の沖合約１００キロの北海で５日、バハマ船籍の自動車輸送船とキプロス船籍の貨物船が衝突し、輸送船が沈没した。

　輸送船には、三菱自動車が日本やタイなどで製造したロシア向けのピックアップトラックやスポーツ用多目的車（ＳＵＶ）など、計１４１７台が積まれていた。

　オランダ沿岸警備隊によると、この事故で、輸送船の乗組員２４人のうち５人が死亡、６人が行方不明になっている。乗組員はポーランドやウクライナ、フィリピン人が中心で、日本人は乗っていなかった。貨物船の乗組員１２人は無事だった。

　沈没した輸送船は、ロシアに自動車を運ぶため、ベルギーからフィンランドに向かっていた。貨物船は英国からベルギーに向け、航行中だった。

Cargo ship Volgo Balt 199 sinks off Turkey coast 12/04/12（BBC News）

Two rescuers have died while searching for the crew of a cargo ship that sank in the Black Sea off the Turkish coast, and 10 people remain missing.

One crew member from the Volgo Balt 199, that went down in stormy seas near Sile in Istanbul province, is known to have died and four have been rescued.

Tug boats have been out trying to help a second ship at risk of sinking.

Turkey's Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said the rescue effort was operating in difficult conditions.

"Four people were rescued from the ship and one person was found dead. Rescue work continues to find others," he said, referring to the Volgo Balt 199.

"Conditions are getting worse because of the bad weather. Rescue work is under way with the help of helicopters and boats from the coastguard."

He said that, during the search for the seven missing crew members, a rescue boat was tossed against rocks and sank, killing two rescuers. Three other members of the rescue team are still missing.

The Volgo Balt 199, which was sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was transporting coal from Russia to the Turkish port of Antalya.

It had 11 Ukrainians and a Russian on board.

The ship is reported to have sent a distress signal at 07:30 GMT before contact was lost.

Meanwhile, another freighter, the BBC Adriatic with 14 crew on board, is also in difficulty after suffering mechanical failure.

Television footage showed the ship being tossed about in heavy seas.

"The sea conditions are very rough which is making the rescue operation very difficult," Salih Orakci, head of the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, said. "[But] God willing, we will save that ship."

The storm has forced the cancellation of flights and ferry services in the Bosphorus Strait, which is one of the world's busiest waterways.

愛知県沖で貨物船１時間４０分漂流…けが人なし 11/27/12（読売新聞）

　２７日午前４時半頃、愛知県田原市の伊良湖岬沖の伊良湖水道航路で、パナマ船籍の貨物船「ＬＵＣＫＹ　ＳＵＮＤＡＹ（ラッキーサンデー）」（全長２２９メートル、４万３７１７トン）がエンジントラブルで航行できなくなった。

　貨物船は約１時間４０分漂流し、午前６時１０分頃、伊良湖岬から約４・８キロの航路を外れた海上でいかりを下ろし、停船した。

　第４管区海上保安本部によると、乗組員２２人（フィリピン人２０人、ギリシャ人２人）にけがはなく、油や積み荷（トウモロコシ約１万トン）の流出もなかった。貨物船付近では、同保安本部の巡視船などが警戒に当たっている。

　この影響で、伊良湖水道航路は午前５時頃～同６時１０分頃までの間、全長１３０メートル以上の船舶の航行が制限されたが、混乱やトラブルはなかったという。貨物船は２５日午後９時頃に鹿児島港（鹿児島市）を出港し、三河港（愛知県豊橋市）に向かう途中だった。

ロシアに漁船不正輸出、容疑の2人逮捕　北海道警 11/07/12（日本経済新聞）

北海道警函館中央署は7日までに、中古漁船をロシアに不正輸出したとして、水産貿易会社「大和船商」の社長、大西善範容疑者（60）=札幌市西区山の手3条9=と従業員、宮下省吾容疑者（55）=同市西区発寒7条7=を船舶法違反などの疑いで逮捕し、同社を家宅捜索した。

逮捕容疑は2010年12月から昨年4月、船舶法で定められた国の許可を得ずに中古マグロはえ縄漁船をロシアの漁業会社に譲渡し、所有者を大和船商と偽った書類を経済産業省に提出してロシアに不正輸出した疑い。

函館中央署によると、漁船は宮城県石巻市の漁業会社から買い付け、約1億円で譲渡した。

函館中央署は、08年から昨年までロシアの同じ漁業会社に逮捕容疑を含め漁船8隻を不正輸出し、少なくとも約1億2千万円の利益を得たとみている。〔共同〕

瀬戸内海で貨物船座礁　愛媛 11/15/12（産経新聞）

　１５日午前２時半ごろ、瀬戸内海にある愛媛県今治市の馬島の岩場で、神戸から韓国に向かっていたリベリア船籍の貨物船「プリンス・オブ・ウェーブズ」（７３２９トン、フィリピン人１７人乗り組み）が座礁したと今治海上保安部に連絡があった。けが人や油の流出はない。

　同保安部によると、貨物船はバナナとパイナップル計２５８４トンを運んでいた。同保安部が座礁からの救出を進め、原因を調べる。

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁:２年間放置　「撤去への道筋を」　提訴の宮崎市漁協組合長　／宮崎 11/14/12（毎日新聞）

　宮崎市の「鬼の洗濯板」近くの海中に、座礁したベリーズ船籍のしゅんせつ船が約２年間放置されている問題で、香港の所有社とロシアの保険会社を相手取り、宮崎地裁に損害賠償請求訴訟を起こした市漁協の矢部広一組合長らが２１日、県庁で記者会見した。

　矢部組合長は提訴理由について「所有社は当初『保険があるから絶対に撤去できる』と言っていたが実現せず、今は逃げている状態。何とか撤去への道筋をつけたかった」と説明した。

　代理人の村上誠弁護士は、事故後２年で所有社が保険金を請求できなくなるが、提訴によって時効が止まることを挙げ「提訴で圧力をかけながら、今後も保険会社との任意交渉を続ける」と述べた。

　村上弁護士によると、日本の港を入出する１００トン以上の船については、０５年施行の改正船舶油濁損害賠償保障法で、国交省海事局が船主の保険契約の有無を確認するようになっているという。

　村上弁護士は「今回は、その確認作業もきちんと機能しなかった」と海事局を批判。これに対し、海事局は「所有社の代理人が提出した書類は審査した。結果として争いが起きていることは遺憾」とした。【中村清雅】

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁:船放置　市漁協が４億円の損賠提訴　所有社、保険会社を相手取り　／宮崎　 11/17/12（毎日新聞）

　宮崎市折生迫の「鬼の洗濯板」近くでベリーズ船籍のしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）が座礁し、約２年間放置されている問題で、周辺海域を管轄する市漁業協同組合（矢部広一組合長）が漁業権を侵害されたとして、しゅんせつ船の所有社（香港）と保険会社（ロシア）を相手取り、計約４億円の損害賠償を求める訴えを宮崎地裁に起こした。【中村清雅】

　提訴は１０月１９日付。訴状などによると、しゅんせつ船は１０年１０月２４日に座礁した。漁協は県などとともに所有社に再三にわたり撤去を求めてきたが応じず、漁協が代わりに撤去するための費用が必要としている。また、所有社に費用を負担する財力がないとして、保険会社に保険金の支払いを求めている。

　漁協などによると、しゅんせつ船は韓国のサルベージ会社が１１年１月に撤去を試みたが、失敗。高さ約３０メートルの支柱が海上に出たまま放置されている。周辺はイセエビの好漁場だが支柱倒壊の恐れがあり、周辺の半径２００メートルで漁ができない状態が続いている。このまま放置が続けば船体からさびが流出する可能性もあり、影響は深刻という。

　撤去費用について、保険会社はこれまで保険契約成立直前の事故だったことを理由に支払いを拒んできたが、漁協は事故は保険の契約期間中に発生しており、支払い義務があるとしている。

　漁協は「訴訟を通し、何とか撤去への道筋をつけたい」と話す。

　漁協側の山本達夫弁護士によると、被告が外国企業の場合、訴状は外務省などを通じて届けられるため、実際に裁判が始まるまで数カ月かかるという。

修学旅行生約１６０人乗せた船が座礁 11/14/12（静岡新聞）

１４日午後、山口県周防大島沖の瀬戸内海で、修学旅行中の神奈川県の高校生などおよそ１７０人を乗せた旅客船が座礁しました。 事故によるけが人はいないということで、生徒らは、現地で海上保安部の巡視艇などに順次乗り移るなどしてすでに全員が救助されたということです。

広島海上保安部によりますと、１４日午後３時すぎ、愛媛県の松山港を出て山口県周防大島町の伊保田港に向けて航行していた広島市のフェリー会社が所有する旅客船「銀河」（６０２トン）が、瀬戸内海上で浅瀬に乗り上げ座礁しました。
この旅客船には、修学旅行中だった神奈川県立保土ケ谷高校の生徒や乗組員など合わせて１７１人が乗っていましたが、けが人はいないということです。
旅客船は船底に小さな穴があいたものの浸水などの被害はなく、生徒らは、海上で海上保安部の巡視艇や運航会社の船に順次乗り移るなどして、すでに全員が救助されたということです。
救助された生徒たちは、目的地の伊保田港へ向かっているということです。
座礁した船は、その後、潮が満ちてきたため、すでに浅瀬からは離れていて、今後、自力で航行できるか確認中だということです。
海上保安部によりますと、現場の浅瀬は海図にも記載されている場所だということで、海上保安部が事故の詳しい原因を調べています。
横浜市保土ケ谷区の保土ケ谷高校によりますと、船に乗っていたのは高校２年生の８つあるクラスのうち、４クラスに当たる男女の生徒１５３人と教師６人です。
学校によりますと、生徒たちは今月１２日から１６日まで５日間の日程で、修学旅行に出かけ、１４日は客船を貸し切り、午後１時ごろ松山港を出て午後４時前に周防大島の伊保田港に到着する予定だったということです。

相良沖貨物船座礁１カ月　離礁難航、地元は「困惑 10/3012（静岡新聞）

　県内に９月３０日、強い風雨をもたらした台風１７号の影響で、牧之原市の相良海岸沖にカンボジア船籍の貨物運搬船「グオシュン１５」（４６４５トン）が座礁してから３０日、１カ月が経過した。引き出し作業は難航し離礁の見通しは立っていない。漁業に影響が出ているほか、海岸には見物やサーフィンを楽しむ人の車の駐車の列ができるなど、地元は“置き土産”に困惑している。

　これまでサルベージ会社が手配したタグボートが船を引っ張って離礁を試みたが、船体が重く、船を引っ張るロープが度々切れた。作業には御前崎海上保安署、県、市の職員らが立ち会うが、引き出し作業について指示はできるものの、強制はできないという。清水海上保安部によると、座礁船については原因者負担が原則という。

　牧之原市などによると、サルベージ会社は、貨物船の積み荷の石灰石を降ろして船体を軽くして離礁作業を続ける方針だが、積み荷を降ろすには検疫など税関の許可が必要で、離礁にはさらに時間がかかる見通し。

　一方、全長１００メートルを超す座礁船の影響で現場の波や風向きが変わり、サーフィンの格好のスポットに。座礁当初から、見物人も多く訪れる。砂浜や周辺道路は、路上駐車の列が連なり、道幅が狭い道路では事故の危険性が高まっている。海岸に近づかないよう呼び掛ける看板が立つが、サーファーは後を絶たない。

　座礁船近くの海域は定置網を設置する場所で、地元漁協は漁を中断せざるを得ない状況に。海岸を散歩していた女性は「海岸の見映えが悪くなり、困った。船を早く引き出してほしい」と話した。

タンカー事故:宮崎沖で貨物船と衝突、中国人１人軽傷 11/03/12（毎日新聞）

　３日午前３時ごろ、宮崎県串間市の都井岬の南約１０キロの海上で、山口県下松市の相馬海運所有のタンカー「宝生丸」（日本人５人乗り組み、３６６トン）とパナマ船籍の貨物船「ＭＩＮＧ　ＹＡＮＧ」（中国人１４人乗り組み、１９９０トン）が衝突し、貨物船の中国人乗組員１人が頭部打撲の軽傷を負った。

　宮崎海上保安部によると、貨物船は右側面に約２メートルの亀裂が入り、自力航行できなくなったためタグボートでえい航した。タンカーも船首付近が損傷したが、自力で鹿児島県の志布志港に入港した。

　タンカーは鹿児島・奄美大島から下松、貨物船は千葉から中国へ向けて航行中だった。【中村清雅】

海保、中国人６４人全員を救助…貨物船火災 10/21/12（読売新聞）

沖縄本島沖で中国貨物船が火災 10/21/12（NHKニュース）

２０日夜、沖縄本島の南東の海上を航行していた中国の民間の貨物船で火災が発生し、第１１管区海上保安本部が巡視艇などを出して、中国人乗組員６４人全員を救助しました。 海上保安本部によりますと、この火災で乗組員３人が軽いけがをしたということです。

２０日午後８時半すぎ、沖縄本島の南東およそ１５０キロの海上を航行していた大型の貨物船で火災が起きていると、第１１管区海上保安本部に連絡がありました。

海上保安本部が航空機や巡視艇などを現場に向かわせたところ、中国の貨物船「ＭＩＧＮ ＹＡＮＧ（ミンヤン・１万２７００トン）」の船尾の部分から炎が上がり、一部の乗組員が救命ボートに避難しているのが見つかりました。 このため巡視艇が救命ボートに乗っていた２１人と甲板に避難していた４３人の救助活動を行い、２１日午前４時すぎまでに６４人全員を救助しました。

海上保安本部によりますと、乗組員は全員中国人で、このうち３人がけがをしていますが、いずれもけがの程度は軽いということです。海上保安本部によりますと、この船は南米から中国に向けて航行していたということです。

Dredger BG Stone 1 capsized in Kattegat 10/21/12 (Maritime Bulletin)

Dredger BG Stone 1 capsized on Oct 20 off Torreso Strand, Odense, Kattegat, after cargo shifted in the hold, reported Maritime Danmark. The 4 crew went into life raft and was picked up by helicopter. Upturned vessel stuck in shallow water with hull partially above the water, some oil leak is reported. Dredger BG Stone 1 IMO 7236311, dwt 610, built 1972, flag Denmark. Photo of capsized BG Stone 1 from Maritime Danmark.

Malaysian freighter Shinline 8 sank off Jeju island, East China sea, 5 died 10/18/12 (Maritime Bulletin)

Malaysian general cargo vessel Shinline 8 sank some 30 miles W of Jeju island, South Korea, East China sea, on Oct 18 2012 due to water ingress. Vessel requested the assistance in the morning around 07:00 LT, a Coast Guard ship was sent to assist. It is understood that the attempts to control water ingress failed, and it was decided to evacuate crew. A high-speed 2 crew CG boat rescue boat took on board 15 crew members of Shinline 8 and headed for the shore, but boat capsized in stormy waters with waves up to 4 meters high. There were 15 Shinline 8 crew and 2 boat crew on board, 5 were trapped inside the capsized boat. It is understood that 5 people died in this accident, all of them from Shinline 8 crew, among them 3 Filipino and 2 Chinese nationalities. 2 people were taken to hospital unconscious in critical condition, but later recovered consciousness. Presumably water ingress started in engine room area, vessel suffered a blackout when the machinery was damaged by flooding water. It is understood that not all the crew was evacuated, Master, three other crew and CG salvage team for some time stayed on board and left vessel later. On photos overturned rescue boat with people climbing to its’ bottom, and moments of crew evacuation, with Shinline 8 already sitting low in the water. General cargo vessel Shinline 8 IMO 8920749, dwt 7025, built 1990, flag Malaysia, owner SHINLINE SDN BHD. 19 crew included 13 Chinese and 6 Filipino nationalities.

Coast Guard Boat Capsizes After Rescuing Cargo Ship Crew 10/18/12 (South China Morning Post)

By Officer of the Watch

A cargo ship with a total of 13 Chinese and six Philippine crew members while heading to Singapore, asked for help after the ship started taking on water. South Korean coast guard responded to their calls and rescued all crew from the sinking cargo ship. Unfortunately the coast guard vessel capsized after rescuing the crew in distress and as a result three Filipino and two Chinese seafarers died.

The boat overturned while carrying 15 crew members rescued from the 5,436-tonne Malaysia-registered Shinline freighter near the southern island of Jeju. All the coast guard officers and 10 of the freighter’s crew were rescued unhurt by another coastguard vessel involved in the operation, but five seafarers perished during the incident. According to a South Korean spokesman high waves caused the coastguard boat to capsize.

Update 1: Oct. 21 2012
Korea’s Coast Guard reported on Saturday that it has begun salvage operations of its capsized boat. The Coast Guard boat capsized on Thursday, presumably due to high tides, during a rescue operation for sailors from a Malaysian cargo ship, resulting in the deaths of three Filipino and two Chinese sailors from the cargo ship.

Coast Guard officers said they began to salvage the sunken boat with a crane earlier in the day, and plan to inspect the wreckage to find the exact cause of the accident. Investigation is also under way into what caused the Malaysian freighter which, according to the investigators, asked for help after holes in its hull caused water to rush into the boat.

Five dead as S Korean coastguard boat capsizes 10/18/12 (South China Morning Post)

Three Filipino and two Chinese sailors died on Thursday when a South Korean coastguard boat capsized after rescuing them from a sinking cargo ship, officials and reports said.

The boat overturned while carrying 15 crew members rescued from the 5,436-tonne Malaysia-registered Shinline freighter near the southern island of Jeju, a coastguard spokesman said.

All the coastguard officers and 10 of the freighter’s crew were rescued unhurt by another coastguard vessel involved in the operation, but five perished in the incident, the spokesman said.

The freighter, with a total of 13 Chinese and six Philippine crew members, radioed for help after the ship – en route to Singapore – started taking on water.

“Of two coastguard boats involved in the operation, one overturned because of high waves,” the spokesman said, adding that the rescued sailors and coastguard officers were taken to a hospital in Jeju.

Three of the dead sailors were from the Philippines, and the two others from China, Yonhap news agency said, adding the freighter sank.

Yonhap quoted Jeju coastguard chief Cho Joon-Eo as saying: “The conditions were extremely bad and the freighter could have gone underwater at any moment. We had no other choice but to try to rescue as many sailors as we could.”

SKorean Boat on Rescue Mission Capsizes; 5 Killed 10/18/12 (ABC News)

A South Korean coast guard boat capsized after rescuing sailors from a damaged cargo ship, leaving five of the sailors dead.

The coast guard boat tipped over Thursday after rescuing 11 Chinese and Filipino sailors from a damaged Malaysian cargo ship that eventually sank off the southern island of Jeju. The rescued sailors and the South Korean boat's crew were transferring to a larger coast guard ship when the capsizing occurred.

uth Korean coast guard officers, background right and second right, prepare to transfer seamen from the sinking Malaysian cargo ship Shinline to a South Korean coast guard ship, foreground, off the southern island of Jeju, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. The South Korean coast guard boat then capsized after rescuing 15 Chinese and Filipino sailors from the cargo ship, which eventually sank. The rescued sailors and the South Korean boat's crew were plucked from the water but five were unconscious and later died in a hospital. One coast guard officer was injured. (AP Photo/Yonhap) KOREA OUT CloseCoast guard officers say all the Asian sailors were plucked from the water but three Filipinos and two Chinese were unconscious and later died in a hospital. One coast guard officer was injured.

The 11 sailors were among 13 Chinese and six Filipinos on the Malaysian cargo ship. Other coast guard vessels rescued eight of those sailors.

座礁３分後「やっちまった」　伊客船船長の予備審問開始 10/17/12 (朝日新聞)

　【ローマ＝石田博士】事故３分後に「やっちまった」とつぶやき、機関長に「沈んでるのか」と問いかける――。イタリア西岸で今年１月、座礁して死亡・行方不明３２人を出した大型客船「コスタ・コンコルディア」のスケッティーノ船長（５１）らの振る舞いが、明らかになりそうだ。

　イタリア中部グロッセートの地方裁判所で１５日、予備審問が始まった。過失致死や操船放棄などの容疑で捜査されてきた船長を起訴して正式な裁判に入るかどうかを決める。うろたえる船長の様子などを収めたブラックボックスの内容も報告される。

　海軍などによる専門家チームは、２７０ページにわたる報告をすでに裁判官に提出している。地元メディアによると船長は、機関長から乗客の避難を勧められても拒み、「ただの停電」と船内放送させる一方で、運航会社幹部には何度も電話し、「失敗した」「沿岸警備局にはどういえばいい？」などと問い合わせていた。事故発生から１時間余りたった午後１１時すぎには、電話で妻に「俺のキャリアはおしまいだ」などと話したという。

瀬戸内海で貨物船座礁　愛媛県 10/16/12 (産経新聞)

　１６日午前５時１５分ごろ、愛媛県今治市の瀬戸内海の中渡島で、大阪から中国・上海に向かっていたパナマ船籍の貨物船「パイオニア・ファースト」（７５００トン、フィリピン人１６人乗り組み）が座礁したと今治海上保安部に通報があった。乗組員にけがはなく、油の流出もない。

　同海保によると、貨物船はスチールコイル約８６００トンを運んでいた。午前５時５０分ごろに自力で離礁。同海保が業務上過失往来危険の疑いで原因を調べる。

ITF Calls for Federal Government Inquiry into Sage Sagittarius Deaths 11/13/12（The Maritime Executive)

By MarEx

By Jemma Castle, Lloyd's List Australia

(This article first appeared on Lloyd's List Australia on Nov 13, 2012)

Federal government should carry out an inquiry into the three deaths on board the Japanese owned and operated bulk carrier Sage Sagittarius (IMO 9233545), according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

“I haven’t seen in all my years at sea, anything that resembles this. I haven’t seen two [deaths], let alone three, so closely together,” said ITF coordinator Dean Summers [pictured in thumb image].

Currently, the incidents aboard the Panama-flagged Sage Sagittarius are subject to three separate investigations – by the Australian Federal Police, by the New South Wales Police and by Japanese authorities.

As the flag state, Panama has a responsibility to investigate the deaths.

However, the ITF says the Panamanian authorities have not done anything yet.

Although Lloyd’s List Australia has made inquiries, we have been unable either to verify or refute this statement, at the point of publication.

“We’re calling for a coordinated response that sees across these jurisdictions.

"It’s difficult to work in those four jurisdictions but our Federal government has got a responsibility to do that.”

The office of the minister for justice Jason Clare received the ITF’s call for an inquiry about a week ago.

A spokesman for Mr Clare said that it is still under consideration.

The ITF is currently undertaking a "week of action" at Newcastle's port to inspect ships sailing under what the ITF describes as “flags of convenience”, a union-term for ships flying the flags of open registries.

Panama-flagged ships are on the White List of the Paris MoU – a port state control safety reporting body.

In the period 2009 to 2011, Panama-flagged ships were inspected 7611 times by port state control inspectors resulting in 345 detentions.

Sage Sagittarius (IMO 9233545) is a 105,708 dwt, 2001-built, dry bulk carrier, according to Equasis and Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

It is owned and operated by Hachiuma Steamship of Japan, which is a subsidiary of shippingcompany NYK.

3 suspicious deaths on coal carrier Sage Sagittarius 10/31/12（Vessel Finder)

The tragic accident happened onboard the coal carrier Sage Sagittarius. For a third time a man is dead in interval of 6 weeks. The vicitim is Kosaku Monji 37. He was on the ship on October 6 when it was unloading a cargo of Newcastle coal in the Japanese port of Kudamatsu. Then arrives back ini Newcastle.

It is supposed that the victim had been crushed in a conveyor belt.
Why is this suspicious? Investigations will answer this question.
The first victim was a Filipino chief cook who disappeared off the Queensland coast 2 months ago. 2 weeks after the first tragic incident ship's chief engineer, Hector Collado, 55, died in Newcastle.
All people part of the crew were deeply shocked and they were sent home by the shipping company.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha will investigate the incident with closer cooperation with Newcastle and Sydney staff.

日本の石炭専用船船員3人死亡 10/29/12（オーストラリア生活情報サイト　NICHIGO PRESS)

6週間の間に異なる死因で次々と

　9月15日付で、パナマ船籍、日本郵船所属、八馬汽船運営の「セージ・サジタリウス」で船員が海に転落して行方不明になり、他の船員が何者かを怖れて船室に立てこもっているという報道があったが、その後、さらに1人が階段から転落して死亡し、NSW州警察がその捜査を続けているが、10月6日にも、日本で荷揚げ中にさらに船員1人が死亡していたことが明らかになり、ABC放送が3件の死亡事件を取り上げている。

　以下は、ABC放送の報道内容。最初の事件が起きたのは、8月末で、同船が、ケアンズの北東450カイリ(約830km)のチモール海公海上を航行中に船員一人が行方不明になった。海員労組では、「行方不明の船員は、労働条件で苦情を訴えようとしていた」との情報を発表している。この事故の捜査のため、同船はポート・ケンブラに停泊するよう命令を受けた。しかし、その後何日かして、同船がニューカッスルに入港する直前にさらに船員1人が階段から転落し、死亡した。この船員の死亡事故は、現在もNSW州警察が捜査を続けている。また、ポート・ケンブラでも最初の船員行方不明事故についてNSW州警察の捜査が続けられている。ところが、10月6日、同船が日本で積み荷の石炭を荷揚げ中に、八馬汽船に雇われていた社員がコンベヤー・ベルトに挟まれ死亡するという事故が起きていた。同船が、日本に向けてニューカッスル港を出港する前に、船員の安全を監督するため、その社員が同船に乗り込んでいたとされている。

　国際運輸労連(ITF)のディーン・サマーズ氏は、「この3人目の死者は、何週間も報告がなかっただけに非常に怪しい。この事件は、オーストラリアの捜査員が同船のログブックに添えられたメモを見て初めて明らかになった。その監督は、船員の福祉と安全を守るために船に乗っていたのだが、10月6日に死亡したのがその監督だ。今日は10月29日だ。その事故が業務上の事故であれば、しっかりした当局なら、この事故に胡散臭さを感じてとっくに立件しているものと期待して当然だと思う。しかし、私たちの知る限り、そうはなっておらず、未だに捜査中ということだ。過去にも2件の疑わしい事件が起きていることを考えれば、すぐに結論を出すわけにはいかない。政府がタスクフォースを編成し、豪連邦警察、NSW州警察、日本の警察合同で直ちに3件の海員死亡事件を捜査すべきだ。」と要求している。

　オーストラリアの警察は、なぜその船で3件も立て続けに死亡事故が起きたのかを今も捜査中だが、20年前に国際海運業界を変えた報告書を作成した人物は、「海運業界全体を再度捜査すべき時期だ」と語っている。「Ships Of Shame」と名付けられたその報告書は、老朽船が海員の安全衛生問題を引き起こしていたことと、海員の待遇問題について切り込んだもので、ピーター・モリス元連邦運輸大臣が、指揮して調査した。モリス氏は、「この報告書の後、国際海運業界はかなり改善された。しかし、セージ・サジタリウスで起きている事件は非常に問題だ。船員達は死亡事件について口外しないよう圧力をかけられているのではないか。1992年の調査時にも同じようなことがあった。船員達は脅されていたし、食事もろくに与えられなかった。外との連絡もできず、起きていることを外部に伝えることもできなかった。この船の状況を考えると、直ちに司直の手でこの船を捜査すべきだし、この船で起きていることは他の船でも起きている可能性があると考えるべきだ」と述べている。連邦警察とNSW州警察は今も最初の2件について捜査を進めている。(NP)

貨物船SAGE SAGITTARIUS作業員（工務監督）死亡 10/06/12（運輸安全委員会)

概要：
貨物船SAGE SAGITTARIUSは、徳山下松港の下松石炭中継基地で船倉の石炭をアンローダーによって揚げ荷役中、平成24年10月6日07時25分ごろ、自動荷役装置に関する保守、指導等のために乗船していた工務監督（Superintendent）がアンローダーのフィーダーコンベアローラーに巻き込まれているところを発見され、死亡が確認された。

原因：
本事故は、本船が、徳山下松港の下松石炭中継基地で船倉の石炭を1号機によって揚げ荷役中、フィーダーコンベアで異音が発生し、SIが、1号機が運転されている状態で本件ローラーへ注油して異音を止め、3時間ごとに注油することとしていたところ、本件ローラーで異音が発生しているとの連絡を受け、フィーダーコンベア通路で本件ローラーの注油作業を行っていた際、本件ローラーに巻き込まれたため、発生したものと考えられる。

ベルトコンベヤーに上半身を挟まれた男性の死亡確認…石炭陸揚げ作業中 - 山口 10/06/12（産経新聞)

６日午前７時半ごろ、山口県下松市のＪＸ日鉱日石エネルギー下松事業所の岸壁に 接岸していた船の上で、海運業「八馬汽船」（神戸市）社員、 門司耕作さん（３７）＝熊本県山鹿市＝がベルトコンベヤーに上半身を挟まれているのが 見つかり、事業所が１１９番した。消防署員が駆け付けたが、門司さんは間もなく死亡が確認された。

下松署によると、門司さんはオーストラリアから船で運んできた石炭を陸揚げする 作業をしていた。同署は業務上過失致死の疑いがあるとみて、徳山海上保安部と合同で 詳しい状況を調べる

国内船舶火災２カ月で４件 いずれも積み荷は「雑品」 10/11/12 (東愛知新聞)

三河港接岸中に火災を起こしたカンボジア船籍の貨物船 ＝豊橋市明海町の三河港で 　豊橋市明海町の三河港で９日、貨物船に積んだスクラップから出火した。これで日本国内で積み荷スクラップから出火した船舶火災は９、１０月だけで４件。いずれも積み荷は「雑品」と呼ばれる無分別の積み荷。背景には、コストがかかるとして金属と金属以外を日本国内では分別せず、一緒に積み込んで輸送しようとする荷主、運輸会社などの姿勢がある。

　９、１０月のスクラップ火災は①９月１９日の佐賀県佐世保沖②９月２７日の大阪府貝塚市沖③１０月５日の関門海峡④１０月９日の豊橋市の三河港と４件が相次いで発生している。船籍は②のパナマ船籍を除いていずれもカンボジア船籍。４隻とも積み荷を中国に輸送することになっていた。

　さらに共通しているのは、積み荷は純粋な金属スクラップほか家電製品のスクラップなど、雑多なスクラップが混じっていたこと。　こうした積み荷は「雑品」と呼ばれ、具体的には発電機、モーター、扇風機、カセットコンロなどのスクラップも含まれるという。

　豊橋市のスクラップ業者によると、「雑品」にはプラスチック、ビニールなども多く含まれている。さらに分別がしっかりなされていないため、ガソリンなどが付着したものが混じっている可能性もある。

　また、「雑品」にはスプレー缶、燃料タンクなども含まれている場合も多く、「積み込む衝撃や摩擦で火花が出て、残ったガスや燃料に引火することも考えられる」と付け加えた。

　近年、中国を中心に東南アジアでは金属スクラップの需要が大きくなり日本からの輸入も増えているが、金属と金属以外の選別は、日本国内では費用がかかるため、そのままの状態で輸出されるケースが増えているという。

（川口直康）

豪華客船新疑惑、船長の愛人？不正乗船か (1/2ページ) (2/2ページ) 02/12/12 (SANSPO.COM)

　イタリアの豪華客船コスタ・コンコルディアが座礁した事故で、乗船名簿に載っていない不法な乗船客が多数いた可能性のあることが２３日、分かった。現地メディアが報じた。事故発生後、フランチェスコ・スケッティーノ船長（５２）が女性と食事中だったと伝えられているが、実はその女性も同船長の「個人的な招待客」で乗船名簿に記載がなかったという。この女性は無事だったが、同様に記載のない女性が多数事故に巻き込まれた可能性も出て来た。

　そりゃ、逃げたくもなるということか。座礁した船から乗客を見捨てて真っ先に脱出したあの船長に、今度は「愛人」を不法に乗船させていた新疑惑が浮上した。

　イタリアのメディアによると、不法乗船の疑いを持たれているのは、モルドバとルーマニアの二重国籍を持つ美人バレリーナ、ドミニカ・チョモルタンさん（２５）。船内でスケッティーノ船長が女性と一緒に夕食をとっていたとされるのは、すでに報じられているが、その女性が実はチョモルタンさんだったという。

　イタリアの捜査当局によると、スケッティーノ船長は１３日午後１０時半ごろ、船内のレストランに現われ、自分とチョモルタンさんの２人分の夕食を注文したという。

　船はそれより約５０分も前の同９時４１分に座礁しており、これが事実だとすれば約５０分間、事故に気付かず？　知らされず？　見つからず？　スケッティーノ船長はどこで“ナニ”をしていたのかという疑念が浮上してくる。

　船内の乗客に事故を知らせるサイレンが鳴ったのは、座礁から約１時間後だった。チョモルタンさんは無事で、事故後、モルドバの首都キシニョフに戻っている。

　ところが、その後、チョモルタンさんの名前が乗船名簿になかったことが判明した。イタリアのメディアはスケッティーノ船長の「個人的な招待客」、つまり、ぶっちゃけ“愛人”だったのではないかと伝えている。スケッティーノ船長には妻子がいるという。

　また、現地対策本部は２２日、乗船名簿に記載のないハンガリー人女性の家族から、事故後、連絡がとれなくなったとの通報があったことを明らかにした。

　女性は事故前に船内から家族に電話してきたが、その後、ぷっつりと連絡が途切れた。対策本部が乗船名簿で女性の名前を調べたところ記載はなかった。２１日に発見された遺体が、このハンガリー人女性である可能性もあるとみて詳しく調べている。

　対策本部では、こうした乗船名簿にない“ナゾの乗客”がほかにも複数いた可能性があるとして、現在約２０人としている行方不明者数が、さらに増える可能性も視野に入れている。

　イタリアのＡＮＳＡ通信によると、水中に沈んだ船尾から２２日、女性１人の遺体が発見され、この事故の死者は計１３人となった。

Brisbane oil spill affects pelicans 01/23/12 (smh.com.au)

AAP

Up to five pelicans are believed to have been affected by an oil spill in the Brisbane River that has spread upstream to Breakfast Creek.

Five tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the river at about 6.45am (AEST) on Monday as a livestock carrier was being refuelled at Hamilton wharves.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) said about five pelicans covered in oil have been spotted but it's believed only one has so far been rescued.

MSQ acting general manager Jim Huggett said it would take several days for the oil to be cleaned up.

"The incoming tide carried some oil sheen upstream as far as Breakfast Creek but as the tide turns our aim is to prevent oil affecting areas downstream such as environmentally sensitive mangroves," Mr Huggett said.

Containment booms are in place to stop the oil from reaching the mangroves, he said.

"An oil skimmer vessel is sucking up oil from the water and trucks with vacuum hoses are pumping oil directly from the spill site to wharfside," Mr Huggett said.

The clean-up is expected to be called off on Monday night and to restart early on Tuesday morning.

MSQ has begun an investigation into the cause of the spill.

The cargo ship GL Lan Xiu was being refuelled by the Valliant III at Hamilton Number 4 Wharf when the spill occurred.

About 2000 head of cattle, which were due to be loaded on board the GL Lan Xiu, remain on shore, MSQ said.

下関沖でカンボジア貨物船が火災、乗員全員救助 01/22/12 (読売新聞)

　２１日午後６時１５分頃、山口県下関市・蓋井島(ふたおいじま)の蓋井島灯台から北西約２９キロの海上を航行していたカンボジア船籍の貨物船「ＤＥ　ＣＨＥＮＧ」（乗組員９人、１４５１トン）から、「火災が発生」と第７管区海上保安本部（北九州市）に通報があった。

　巡視艇３隻と航空機２機が出動し、乗組員全員を救助。けが人はなかった。

　門司海上保安部によると、乗組員は中国籍などすべて外国人。救命ボート２隻で脱出し、巡視艇に助けられた。２２日午前１時現在、船体が左に大きく傾き、船倉などが延焼中。スクラップ９２４トンを積み、愛知県豊橋市から韓国釜山市へ向かっていた。

Carnival To Conduct Safety Audit – gCaptain Editorial 01/20/12 (gcaptain.com)

By gCaptain Staff

The following editorial was written by a source trusted by the editors of gCaptain.com who wishes to remain anonymous due to his close relationship with Carnival.

Carnival Corporation today announced they they will be conducting “comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company’s cruise lines”. According to the announcement, leading the review will be Captain James Hunn, “a retired U.S. Navy Captain and currently the company’s senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance. Following a 32-year career in the Navy, Hunn has held senior positions at Carnival Corporation & plc for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate-wide efforts to establish maritime policy standards, while overseeing the company’s health, environmental, safety, and security practices”.

Captain Hunn started his career with Carnival Corporation to oversee the Environmental Compliance Program that was put in place in 2002 as part of a plea agreement with the US DOJ concerning environmental issues. His prior US Navy career, while commendable, does not include service on board merchant vessels of any type, including cruise ships. Since joining Carnival Corporation he has been based in the Corporate offices, arguably removed from the operations of the various cruise lines that make up the Carnival Corporation brand – the individual cruise line operations are run from offices located in California, Washington, Miami, Genoa, and other cities throughout the world.

The point here is that having a Corporate insider who is removed from the operations and is not experienced with the product/service being reviewed, can hardly be considered an independent and objective investigation. Also included in the review, according to the announcement, are “senior health and safety executives” from the Carnival Corporation operating companies. These would be the persons responsible for development, implementation and oversight of the policies and procedures currently in place. Again, the point can be made that this review can not be considered independent and objective.

When the ISM Code came into force in the 1990′s all Cruise Lines found themselves in need of a documented Safety Management System (SMS) as required by the Code. When going through the initial development and implementations of the SMS across their operating companies, Carnival Corporation brought in experienced maritime industry personnel; former Captains, Auditors, Engineers and Surveyors who had real life experience dealing with vessel operations including Bridge Team Management, environmental issues, safety standards, applicable regulations (MARPOL, SOLAS, STCW, etc.) and other areas. This group was responsible for oversight of each operating companies SMS development and implementation to ensure minimum standards were met and to bring issues to light based on their industry experience.

To facilitate change correctly, the group spent much time on the vessels and in the offices of the individual operating companies, and many issues were identified and addressed. About 10 years ago, Carnival Corporation reorganized their internal structure and removed Safety and Environmental reviews from this groups responsibility and replaced many of the experienced industry staff with personnel from the individual operating companies and in Captain Hunn’s case, from the US Navy.

But one question remains: With many of the personnel responsible for overseeing the Safety of the cruise ships in the operating companies being from the operating companies, has Carnival Corporation lost an objective view of the operating culture on board their ships?

RINA President Resigns Amid Controversy Over Costa Concordia Comments 01/20/12 (Off Radar Cruise News)

President of RINA, the Italian classification society that certified the Costa Concordia for seaworthiness and safety, Gianni Scerni resigned Tuesday amid controversy over comments he allegedly made to the Italian media. Mr. Scerni disputes the accuracy of the comments but he has decided to resign in order to distance RINA from any association with the alleged remarks.

The comments in question were made in an article posted to Il Secolo XIX, an Italian paper, titled “Scerni: Ma l’armatore non poteva non sapere”, or “But the owner could not know”, translated.

In the article Scerni attacks the owners of the Costa Concordia, who have publicly placed blame solely on Captain Francesco Schettino, for failing to know about the practice of “bow’ing”, or “showboating”, that we have seen in video and AIS plotting from previous voyages of the cruise ship.

Scerni tells the paper (translated from Italian to English): “It is madness such a thing could happen with calm seas and the starry skies. Going so close to the coast is a sailor bravado, but it can not be done by those who lead a ship of that size.”

Scerni is then quoted as saying that the “prank” by Capt. Schettino was an error “that I could do myself sailing a boat.”

Again, Scerni disputes the accuracy of the comments and RINA has publicly stated that it “acknowledges the important contribution which Mr Scerni has made to the company during the past ten years.” Regardless, his resignation is likely to be the first of many from high-level people connected to the incident.

Source: gcaptain.com

Gianni Scerni, President of RINA, Resigns – Was Critical of Costa Management in Newspaper Interview 01/20/12 (Open Salon)

Shortly after Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi blamed the grounding of the Costa Concordia on an ”inexplicable” error by the captain, Gianni Scerni, the president of RINA, sat down for an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX. RINA, Registro Italiano Navale, is the Italian classification society that issued the certificate of seaworthiness and the Safety Management System (SMS) certification for the Costa Concordia. The resulting article, titled Ma l’armatore non poteva non sapere (But the owner could not find out) is critical of Costa management and questions the claim that Costa was unaware of the practice of its ships presenting a “salute” or “bow” in the form of a close passage by island of Giglio. Within hours of its publication, Gianni Scerni announced his resignation as the president of RINA. He disputed the accuracy some of the comments in the interview but decided to resign from RINA nevertheless.

Does mystery woman hold secret to doomed ship Costa Concordia? 01/20/12 (Herald Sun)

THE list of bizarre events surrounding the sinking of the Costa Concordia is growing daily, so it was only a matter of time before a mystery blonde made an appearance.

Speculation has swirled overnight around the woman – variously described as a ballerina, a ship employee and an undocumented passenger – reportedly seen dining and drinking wine with the captain of the Costa Concordia shortly before the 17-deck vessel became impaled on a rock off the Italian coast and pitched on its side.

Various news reports said police wanted to question Domnica Cemortan, a 25-year-old ballerina with dual Moldovan and Romanian citizenship who staunchly defended Captain Francesco Schettino's actions, calling him a "hero" who "saved lives".

She acknowledged she had been with the captain on the bridge, The Times reported.

Although there was an initial report her name was missing from the list of passengers and crew, Costa Crociere, owners of the boat, said it could provide her ticket number.

The Times also said Ms Cemortan had previously worked for Costa Cruises as a Russian translator but was thought to be taking a "holiday" on the ill-fated ship.

AFP said the Italian media had speculated Ms Cemortan might have been a special guest of the captain, who is now under house arrest in his village near Naples pending possible charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship.

Italian prosecutors would neither confirm nor deny reports she could emerge as a key witness.

As for Ms Cemortan herself, now back in Moldova, she denied she was the mystery woman at dinner and said she went to the bridge only after the crash to translate for Russian passengers, The Times said.

According to The Times, Genoa's Il Secolo XIX newspaper quoted passenger Angelo Fabbri of Savona as saying he and his wife saw the 52-year-old Schettino in the fancy Concordia Club restaurant dining with a slim blonde woman and another officer and drinking from a decanter of red wine.

A special menu was being served: prawn cocktails, pasta with shrimp and a fish grill.

"Schettino, in a dark suit, was sitting in front of the woman. She seemed young. At first, we thought it was his daughter. A pretty woman, 35 or 40 years old, slim, with shoulder-length blonde hair, with a black dress with open arms," he told Il Secolo XIX.

"They were laughing. There was trust between them, great happiness," he said. "There is no doubt they were drinking, at least a whole decanter. The last drop was poured into the captain's glass.

"They left the table crossing the room single-file walking between the tables," he said. "First Schettino, then the woman and finally the third diner."

However, The Times reported that Pier Luigi Foschi, Costa Cruises chairman and CEO, said that Mr Schettino does not drink.

The Times, quoting leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, also reported investigators were focusing on a series of telephone calls made from the liner after it hit rocks last Friday night off the island of Giglio and before an evacuation was ordered almost an hour later.

Corriere della Sera said the investigators were trying to determine if company bosses were trying to avoid the "economic consequences" of an evacuation, which would entail an automatic compensation payment of €30 million ($38.8 million) for the 3000 passengers aboard.

Meanwhile, divers and salvage teams, who resumed their search of the ship after it was suspended on Wednesday when the vessel slipped and moved, raced against time to recover bodies and siphon fuel amid forecasts of worsening weather.

"I'm not calm at all," Environment Minister Corrado Clini said yesterday, according to ANSA news service.

"Our time is very limited. We are running the risk of the ship moving, being damaged or the fuel tanks breaking."

The boat, which had just begun its Mediterranean cruise, carried some 230,000 tons of fuel that threatened to leak into the waters off Giglio, a marine sanctuary and popular holiday spot.

At least 11 are known dead in the disaster, with more than 20 others still missing.

Clini said operations to empty the ship's fuel reserves would begin only once all the missing were accounted for, ANSA said.

Costa Crociere confirmed it would give refunds to all passengers who were onboard and cover any expenses they incurred in the aftermath of the disaster.

But the company angered many survivors when one of its executives accused passengers of "sensationalism" in their accounts of the disaster.

"I have read, seen and heard so much nonsense from these survivors, who tended as usual to choose sensationalism rather than information," Costa Crociere assistant director Monica Bova wrote in a letter posted on the Il Secolo website.

Costa Concordia skipper Francesco Schettino 'drinking with mystery woman' 01/20/12 (The Australian)

James Bone

Picture: AFP

THE captain of the Costa Concordia is alleged to have been drinking at dinner with a Moldovan dancer on the night of the shipwreck off Italy.

Italian police want to question Domnica Cemortan, a 25-year-old former ballet student who says that she was with the captain on the bridge. Ms Cemortan is a Costa Cruises employee, but she was starting a holiday to celebrate her birthday with friends.

She had worked as an interpreter for Russian passengers on a previous leg but bought a ticket to stay on board after the ship left the Italian port of Civitavecchia.

"The woman who on the evening of the accident appears to have dined with Captain [Francesco] Schettino had regularly embarked on the vessel in Civitavecchia," Clarence Mitchell, a company spokesman, said. "Costa Cruises is ready to provide the authorities with her identity and the details of the ticket she bought."

A passenger claimed yesterday that he saw the captain having dinner and drinking from a decanter of red wine in the ship's best restaurant with an unidentified slim blonde woman and another officer shortly before the vessel hit the rocks on Friday night.

Angelo Fabbri, from Savona, said that he and his wife saw Captain Schettino in the Concordia Club restaurant at 9.05pm on the evening of the accident. A menu was served for special guests: prawn cocktails, pasta with shrimps and a fish grill.

"Schettino, in a dark suit, was sitting in front of the woman. She seemed young. At first, we thought it was his daughter. A pretty woman, 35 or 40 years old, slim, with shoulder-length blonde hair, with a black dress with open arms," he told Il Secolo XIX newspaper in Genoa.

"They were laughing. There was trust between them, great happiness. There is no doubt they were drinking, at least a whole decanter. The last drop was poured into the captain's glass.

"They left the table crossing the room single file, walking between the tables: first Schettino, then the woman and finally the third diner."

The claim that Captain Schettino had been drinking directly contradicts a statement by Pier Luigi Foschi, the chairman of Costa Cruises, that the captain was a non-drinker. All Costa officers, he said, were subject to random drug and alcohol tests.

Police were conducting urine tests on Captain Schettino yesterday, almost a week after the accident. He told the investigating magistrate that he had not drunk alcohol.

Now back in Moldova, Ms Cemortan, who trained as a ballet dancer in Paris, also denied that she was the mystery woman seen dining with the captain. She added that she went on the bridge only after the ship ran aground.

"I was at dinner with friends, at 9.30pm. I climbed on to the deck and translated information provided by the officers for Russian passengers," she told the local Advarul newspaper. "The Russians were the first passengers evacuated."

She defended Captain Schettino as a hero for saving thousands of passengers. "I left the bridge at 11.50pm and he was there," she said.

"It was dark. Knowing the ship saved me. Trying to move to the exit, following the fluorescent lights, I could hear all sorts of objects falling. People were screaming. A man had a three-month-old baby in his arms and another had a three-year-old ... The ship was pitching more and more. When I reached the lifeboat, I thought we were saved. But a large piece of metal began to push the boat. Many people had jumped."

Ms Cemortan, who has a two-year-old child and has worked on cruise ships for five years, was reported to have got the ticket on the internet as a birthday present.

Costa Cruises said last night that it was not clear when the woman who was dining with the captain went on to the bridge. "I cannot either confirm or deny if the woman concerned was on the bridge at the time of the accident," Mr Mitchell said.

THE TIMES

A mystery woman was on the bridge alongside captain Francesco Schettino? 01/20/12 (Sea News)

Picture: AFP

A mystery woman was on the bridge alongside captain Francesco Schettino when his ship ran aground off an Italian island on Friday night, it emerged today.

A mystery woman was on the bridge alongside captain Francesco Schettino when his ship ran aground off an Italian island on Friday night, it emerged today.

The blonde woman is a 25-year-old Moldovan crew member who was not properly identified by investigators as she reportedly did not appear on any official manifest for the Costa Concordia.

She is passenger rep Domnica Cemortan, possibly hired without a proper contract. Reports speculated she may have been on the bridge because Schettino was trying to impress her.

Blonde is Domnica Cemortan, 25, from Moldova, who was working as passenger rep for Costa Cruises.

Prosecutors believe she may have crucial evidence as to what happened when cruise liner sailed by island of Giglio.

Witnesses describe seeing Captain Schettino with blonde in restaurant 30 minutes before crash and on the bridge.

Initial reports said she may have been on board without authorisation, but Costa Cruises she was a verified passenger.

A statement from Costa Cruises later confirmed Ms Cemortan was an authorised passenger.

It said: 'Costa Cruises would like to clarify that the law as it stands, safety regulations and the control systems applied meticulously by the company do not permit the embarkation of unregistered passengers.'

Based on the pictures broadcast by the media, the woman stated as being in the company of Captain Schettino on the evening of January 13th was certainly embarked on January 13th in Civitavecchia and duly registered.

'The company is ready to provide the authorities, when requested, with the identity of the person and the number of the ticket purchased.'

Investigators want to find out where she was at the moment the Concordia hit the rocks.

New recording reveals crew on board thought accident was just a black out and told coastguard there was no emergency.

11 people confirmed dead and 21 still missing after disaster.

Costa Concordia accident start to become mysterious... 01/20/12 (Sea News)

The shipping industry newspaper Lloyd's List reported that Friday was not the first time the Costa Concordia steamed extremely close to shore near Giglio.How this might have happened? Experts of SeaNews has an answer.

The shipping industry newspaper Lloyd's List reported that Friday was not the first time the Costa Concordia steamed extremely close to shore near Giglio.

Satellite tracking data obtained by the paper show that the ship passed within 230 meters (755 feet) of the coast of the island at least once before, even closer than the location where the Costa Concordia hit the rocks lasted weekend.

The pass happened on August 14, 2011, Lloyd's List reported. Costa Cruises chairman Pier Luigi Foschi earlier this week said a pass near the island last summer occurred only once, on August 9-10, 2011. The discrepancy in the dates could not be reconciled late Wednesday.

So the question still remains: why the ship did not hit the rocks when she passed closer to the rocks, and she hit when she passed farther?

ONCE MORE SQUAT EFFECT

SeaNews consulted the issue to maritime experts. Response is as follows:

'Once more we have to take into account the SPEED of the ship. What was the speed previous time when the ship passed closer? Because centimeters are important at this accident. And, speed of the ship direcly have the ability to change the draugh of a ship through SQUAT effect. There has been many accidets due to this effect. To make a correct statement the speed of vessel at each passage should be taken into account'

Bulker "Global Legacy" stranded 01/19/12 (Maritime Information Centre)

On 19th January, 2012, bulker “Global Legacy” operated by NYK Global Bulk Corporation which is subsidiary of NYK Line stranded at Pohang, Korea.

She has anchored at Pohang waiting for cargo. She dragged and hit break water due to strong wind. After hitting break water, she stranded at about 100meter away from shore.

As her fuel tank was damaged, NYK is collecting the in formations as to its quantity.

The company is managing situation coordinating with local authority.

Source: NYK Line

座礁直後、船長は救助要請せず　「停電したが大丈夫」 01/16/12 (産経新聞)

　イタリア西岸での大型客船「コスタ・コンコルディア」の座礁事故で、乗客の避難前に船を離れたとされ、過失致死や操船放棄の容疑に問われたスケッティーノ船長（５２）と沿岸警備隊の通話が１７日公開され、隊員から厳しく批判されていたことがわかった。

　伊紙コリエレ・デラ・セラなどによると、座礁直後の問い合わせに対して、船長は「停電したが大丈夫だ」などと応じ、救援は必要ないとしていた。

　だが事態は悪化し、避難が始まった。１４日午前０時３２分、船長は「船に残っている」と答えたが、目撃者によると、この時すでに陸に上がっていた。船に残された人数を問われ、船長は「２００～３００人」と答えた。

　その１０分後、救出が必要な人数を問われた船長は「会社に聞いたら、１００人ほどだと言われた」と答えた。不審に思った担当官に詰問され、船長は「船が沈みそうなので、離れた」と自白した。驚いた担当官が「何で船を離れたのか」と問い返すと、船長は「いや、船にいる」と言い直してごまかした。

　午前１時４６分、担当官は「子ども、女性は何人いるのか、きちんと答えなさい。船に戻れ。これは命令だ」と詰め寄った。船長は「いや、私はここで救助を指揮する」と答えたが、死者が出ていると伝えられ、思わず「何人か」と尋ねた。

　担当官は「それはあなたが伝えるべきことだ。家に帰りたいとでも言うのか」と船長を叱りとばした。（ローマ＝石田博士）

乗客より先に避難の船長に帰船促す　イタリア豪華客船座礁で沿岸警備隊 01/16/12 (産経新聞)

　イタリア中部沖のジリオ島付近で１３日夜、豪華客船コスタ・コンコルディアが座礁した事故で、過失致死などの容疑で検察に身柄を拘束されたスケッティーノ船長が、乗客らより先にジリオ島に避難しているのを沿岸警備隊関係者に見とがめられ、船に戻るよう促されていたことが１５日、分かった。ＡＮＳＡ通信が伝えた。

　船長が島で目撃されたのは１４日午前０時半ごろで、船内にはまだ大勢の乗客乗員が残されていた。同船長は船に戻ると答えたものの、その後も島にとどまり続けたという。

　ＡＰ通信によると、緊急時に船を放棄した船長には、イタリアの航海規則で最高１２年の禁錮刑が科される可能性がある。

　ＡＮＳＡによると、船内から１５日に発見された男性２人の遺体はイタリア人とスペイン人と判明した。（共同）

韓国・仁川沖でタンカー爆発　５人死亡、６人不明 01/16/12 (朝日新聞)

　韓国北西部、仁川（インチョン）沖の海上で１５日午前８時ごろ、韓国籍のタンカーが航行中に爆発して大破し、船体の半分が沈んだ。聯合ニュースによると、乗組員５人が死亡し、６人が行方不明になっている。

　このタンカーは普段は軽油を運んでいるという。この日は、仁川港でガソリン６５００トンを下ろした後で積み荷はほとんどなく、海洋への大規模な油漏れはなかった。船内ではタンクに残ったガスを抜く作業中だったといい、韓国海洋警察が原因を調べている。（ソウル＝中野晃）

5 dead, 6 missing in tanker explosion 01/16/12 (Maritime Bulletin)

By Kim Tae-jong

An explosion on an oil tanker in the West Sea, Sunday, killed five crew members and left six others missing, the Coast Guard said.

The 4,191-ton Doola No. 3 was in waters 4.8 kilometers north of Jawol Island near the port city of Incheon when the blast occurred at around 8:05 a.m.

A total of 11 Korean and five Myanmarese crewmen were aboard but only five people were rescued, according to the Coast Guard.

The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed but officials from the freight’s operating firm suspect it happened during the process of emptying gas from the oil tank.

“We suspect the explosion may have occurred while crewmen were trying to remove the remaining gas in a storage tank. The vessel usually transports diesel, but this time it carried gasoline,” an official from Doola Shipping said.

Those in the cabin and engine room seemed to have avoided injuries from the explosion but crewmen on the deck seemed to have been directly hit, he said.

After leaving Incheon, the ship was heading to Daesan in South Chungcheong Province, carrying 80-tons of bunker-C oil and 40 tons of diesel.

The Coast Guard immediately dispatched patrol and rescue ships to search for the missing crew and also took emergency measures to stop the ship from sinking and the remaining oil from spilling into the sea.

The ship was cut in half with its bow almost submerged, but no oil spill was detected, the Coast Guard said.

As a precaution, inflatable oil booms were placed around the wreck, and an operation was conducted to seal tanks. They have also considered salvaging the hull with barges before it completely sinks

An explosion tore apart South Korean tanker Doola No.3 01/16/12 (Maritime Bulletin)
At around 0805 LT Jan 15 an explosion tore apart South Korean tanker Doola No.3 three miles north of Jawol Island near Incheon, Yellow sea. Tanker was in ballast, so apparently, blast was caused by gas in empty cargo tanks. Vessel broke in two and partially sank, 5 crew killed and 5 or 6 missing, which in sum accounts for two thirds of the 16 crew, 11 Koreans and 5 Myanmar. Chemical tanker Doola No.3 IMO 9262106, dwt 6536, built 2002, flag South Korea, manager DOOLA SHIPPING CO LTD. On photos Doola after and before an explosion.

韓国船籍タンカー爆発、船体真っ二つ…５人死亡 01/16/12 (読売新聞)

　【ソウル＝宇恵一郎】１５日午前８時過ぎ、韓国・仁川港沖の黄海で、韓国船籍のタンカー「ドゥラ３号」（４１９１トン、１６人乗り組み）で突然、爆発が起こり、船体が中央部から二つに割れた。

　この爆発で、乗組員のうち５人が死亡し、６人が行方不明となった。

　韓国海洋警察で爆発の原因を調べているが、聯合ニュースによると、爆発は、仁川でガソリン６５００トンを降ろし、出航後、タンク内に残ったガソリンの除去作業中に起きた。船長らは、気化したガソリンに引火した可能性を指摘している。

　船尾部分には、Ｃ重油と軽油計１２０トンを積載していたが、タンクは損傷せず油の流出は起きていないという。

韓国船舶の爆発事故　タンク内の油蒸気が原因か 01/16/12 (聯合ニュース)

【仁川聯合ニュース】韓国北西部の仁川沖の紫月島付近で１５日午前に発生したタンカー（４１９１トン）の爆発事故の原因は船内のタンクに残っていた油蒸気の可能性が高いことが分かった。

　仁川海洋警察署の複数の関係者は空きタンクに残っていた油蒸気がスパークなどに触れ、爆発につながった可能性が高いと口をそろえた。

　同船の船社関係者は「タンク内に残っていたガスを抜く作業中に事故が起こったようだ」と説明した。普段は軽油を積載するが、今回はガソリンを運搬しており、爆発事故との関連性を調べているという。

　仁川海洋警察署によると、同船は仁川にガソリン６５００トンを降ろし、中西部の大山に戻る途中だった。仁川を出発してから約１時間３０分後、ごう音とともに原因不明の爆発が起き、船体の半分が沈んだ。事故で乗組員３人が死亡し、８人が行方不明となっている。

　同警察署は事故現場に科学捜査隊員を派遣し、証拠品などを回収した。国立化学捜査研究院に詳しい分析を依頼する方針だ。また、生存した乗組員から情報を収集し、正確な事故の原因を調べる予定だ。

伊客船事故で行方不明者の捜索続く、船長に「重大な過失」(01/16/12) (CNN.co.jp)

イタリア・ジリオ島（ＣＮＮ）　イタリア中部沖のジリオ島付近で起きた大型客船の座礁事故は、発生から３日目に入った現地時間の１６日も、行方不明になっている乗客乗員の捜索が続けられている。１５日までに新たに乗客２人が遺体で見つかり、死者は５人に増える一方、２４時間以上も船室に閉じ込められていた韓国人の男女が無事救出された。

救出された乗客はジリオ島内の教会や病院、民家などに身を寄せており、負傷者は少なくとも２０人に上っているという。同島市長は１５日午前の時点で、まだ少なくとも乗員６人と乗客１１人が行方不明になっていると話していた。船は船体が破損した状態で半分近くが沈んでおり、犠牲者はさらに増える恐れもある。

新たに遺体で見つかった年配の乗客２人はライフジャケットを着けた姿でレストラン付近から発見された。このほかにフランス人乗客２人とペルー人の船員１人が死亡している。

イタリアのＡＮＳＡ通信によると、検察当局は１４日、フランチェスコ・スケッティーノ船長が同船を座礁させ、まだ乗客が残っているのに同船を見捨てた疑いがあるとして、過失致死の容疑で拘束した。さらに一等航海士も同様の容疑で拘束して取り調べるとともに、航行記録装置を回収して解析を進めている。

同船を運航していたイタリアのコスタクルーズ社は１５日、「同船は沿岸に近過ぎる航路をたどっており、非常事態対応における船長の判断はコスタ社が定めた手順に従っていなかったようだ」と発表、スケッティーノ船長が重大な過失を犯した可能性があるとの見方を示した。

沿岸警備隊によると、同船は乗客３２００人と乗員１０００人を乗せて航行中、１３日夜にジリオ島で座礁。この時点で浸水が始まっていたにもかかわらず航行を続けられると判断したが、その後、安全上重大な問題が生じていると分かり、進路を変更してジリオ島の港へ向かった。当局は、同船が島に近い航路をたどった理由や救難信号を出さなかった理由を調べている。

客船座礁　客が自力で救命具探す　乗員は救命ボートの降ろし方も知らず(01/16/12) (スポニチ)

　イタリア中部沖で豪華客船コスタ・コンコルディアが座礁した事故では、乗客への避難誘導がほとんどなされないなど船会社側の危機管理上の問題点が乗客の証言から浮き彫りになっている。

　事故に遭遇した東京の自営業の男性（５２）は「乗客に避難を促すアナウンスは一度もなかった」と振り返る。座礁の衝撃があったのはレストランにいた１３日午後９時半すぎ。船が傾き始めたにもかかわらず「機械のトラブル。心配ない」との放送が２回繰り返された。

　約１時間後に突然、緊急を知らせるサイレンが鳴った。レストランの客は一斉に出口に向かって走り、デッキにあった救命具を自力で探し当てて身に着けた。

　男性は「指揮命令系統が全く機能していなかった」と指摘。乗客乗員の脱出が完了する前に船長が船から避難していたことについては「われわれを見捨てて逃げるとは腹立たしい」と話した。

　地元メディアによると、乗員の多くはフィリピン人などの外国人でイタリア語を話せず、乗客同様パニックに陥る者もいた。避難対応をしていた乗員は救命ボートを海に降ろす方法を知らず、たまたま乗客の中にいた元船乗りの男性に教わる場面もあったという。（共同）

Cruise ship death toll rises 01/15/12 (Irishexaminer.com)

The Costa Concordia death toll rose by two tonight – as the captain of the stricken vessel blamed the navigation systems for the grounding.

Two French nationals and a Peruvian died after the Italian-owned cruiser ran aground near the island of Giglio off the Tuscan coast on Friday night.

But this evening, as search and rescue teams battled failing light, the coastguard said the bodies of two elderly passengers were found by divers in a section of the submerged restaurant.

The news came just hours after a honeymooning South Korean couple were found alive, and a cabin services director was also rescued despite suffering a suspected broken leg.

Officials reduced the initial number of missing from 70 to 17 – six crew and 11 passengers.

Thirty people were said to be injured, two seriously.

As pressure for an explanation of how the huge cruiser could crash into rocks intensified, the Concordia captain, Francesco Schettino, told Italian television he had not expected the rocks to be in the area where the ship ran aground.

He said: “I don’t know if it was detected or not, but on the nautical chart it was marked just as water and some 100-150 metres (328ft-492ft) from the rocks, and we were about 300 metres (984ft) from the shore, more or less.

“We shouldn’t have had this contact.”

Capt. Schettino and an officer were held and questioned by prosecutors on suspicion of multiple manslaughter, abandoning ship, and causing a shipwreck, state TV and Sky TV said.

But tonight one maritime expert said it was important the captain was given “leeway” and time to explain his decisions.

Karen Jacques, chief operating officer, of Dryad Maritime, which provides risk forecasts and advice to mariners, said: “It’s his ship that’s sinking and he will feel that in his belly.”

Police divers and rescue crews continued to circle the wrecked ship which sustained a massive gash after crashing into rocks.

Crews in dinghies examined the ship near the site of the 160-foot hull hole where water flooded in and caused the ship to lurch to its side.

Survivors said the terrifying, chaotic escape was like a scene from the Titanic which went down 100 years ago claiming 1,517 lives.

Many passengers complained the crew did not give them good directions on how to evacuate.

They also claimed that once it became clear it was an emergency there was a delay lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many to be released.

Several other passengers said crew members told passengers for 45 minutes that there was a simple “technical problem” that had caused the lights to go off.

Angry passengers also claimed they never participated in an evacuation drill, although one had been scheduled for yesterday.

Cruise bosses defended the actions of the crew and said they were co-operating with the investigation.

Survivor John Rodford said staff gave him and his wife incorrect information as the drama unfolded while they were dining.

“They said ’No, it’s all right, it’s just a malfunction in the engines,” he told Sky News.

“Then it started tilting the other way and the plates came off the tables.”

He said passengers scrambled for lifejackets and he and his wife slid across the deck to find a lifeboat.

Mr Rodford said an evacuation drill was scheduled for the day after the cruise went down.

Reliving his escape, he said it was “chefs and waiters” helping passengers flee rather than officers.

He said: “The people who served us our dinner, were the people who helped us get on the lifeboats and were manning the lifeboats.

“I didn’t see captains’ jackets and things like that. It was dinner staff.”

He added that when it came to getting him off, the “Costa people are far and few between to be honest – very scarce”.

Search on Italian capsized cruise ship continues 01/15/12 (Canada.com)

(Picture: Max Rossi, Reuters)

GIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) - Divers found the bodies of two elderly men inside a capsized cruiseliner on Sunday, raising to five the death toll after the luxury vessel foundered and dramatically keeled over off Italy’s coast.

Teams were painstakingly checking the interior spaces of the partly submerged Italian liner Costa Concordia for 15 people still unaccounted for after the huge ship, with 4,229 passengers and crew on board, was holed by a rock on Friday night.

A day after the disaster, rescuers plucked a South Korean honeymoon couple and an injured crewmember alive from the wreck, lying on its side close to the beautiful island of Giglio off Italy’s west coast.

The captain of the 114,500-tonne ship, Francesco Schettino, was arrested on charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship, Italian police said. Some 64 people were injured in the accident.

Investigators were working through evidence from the equivalent of the "black boxes" carried on aeroplanes, to try to establish the precise sequence of events behind the accident, which occurred in calm seas and shallow waters.

Searching the vast ship for survivors was like combing through a small town - but one tilted on its side, largely in darkness, partly underwater and full of floating debris.

In the early afternoon, scuba divers looking for survivors found the bodies of two men at an evacuation assembly point in the submerged part of the ship, coastguard officials said.

The bodies of two French tourists and a Peruvian crew member were found on Saturday.

The discovery of the bodies on Sunday dampened earlier euphoria when a helicopter lifted off injured chief purser Manrico Gianpetroni, hours after rescuers made voice contact with him deep inside the stricken, multi-storey vessel.

Gianpetroni, who had a broken leg, was winched up from the ship on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

"I never lost hope of being saved. It was a 36-hour nightmare," he told reporters.

TITANIC

Passengers compared the disaster to the sinking of the Titanic, and described people leaping into the sea and fighting over lifejackets in panic when the ship hit a rock and ran aground as they sat down for dinner on Friday night.

The vast hulk of the 290-metre-long ship loomed over the little port of Giglio, a picturesque island in a maritime nature reserve off the Tuscan coast. There was large gash in its side and divers were able to swim into the wreck through the hole.

The specialist diving teams faced a complex task as they worked their way through the warren of cabins on the ship - a floating resort that boasted a huge spa, seven restaurants, bars, cinemas and discotheques.

"Getting inside the ship is really difficult and dangerous," said Majko Aldone, a one of the specialist team of divers who have been entering cabins through open portholes or by smashing through the glass.

"There are various obstacles, sheets, mattresses, nets which have broken free and are spread out all over the areas we’re searching," he said.

Paolo Tronca, a local fire department official, said the search would go on "for 24 hours a day as long as we have to" and that rescue workers were using sniffer dogs in the section of the ship above water.

As the search continued, there were demands for explanations of why the vessel had come so close to the shore and bitter complaints about how long it took to evacuate the terrified passengers.

State prosecutor Francesco Verusio said investigations might go beyond the captain.

"We are investigating the possible responsibility of other people for such a dangerous manoeuvre," he told SkyTG24 television. "Command systems did not function as they should."

He said the ship had come within 150 metres (yards) of the coast, which he called "incredibly close."

Agnese Stella, a 72-year-old housewife who has lived on Giglio for 50 years told Reuters: "It came much too close (to shore), it never comes this close normally."

"UNMARKED" ROCK

Magistrates said Schettino abandoned the vessel not long after midnight, well before all the passengers were taken off.

The vessel’s operator, Costa Crociere, a unit of Carnival Corp & Plc CCL.L, the world’s largest cruise company, said the Costa Concordia had been sailing on its regular course when it struck a submerged rock.

In a television interview, Schettino said the rock was not marked on any maritime charts of the area.

After an massive rescue operation throughout the weekend, involving helicopters, ships and lifeboats, many passengers had already left the area and returned home and attention began to turn to the cleanup.

Local officials expressed concern the ship’s fuel, at full load as it had just begun the cruise, could spill into pristine waters off Giglio. So far there was no sign of pollution. Dutch maritime services company SMIT said it had been hired to pump fuel off the ship once the rescue was over.

The coast guard says the removal of the 2,380 tonnes of fuel cannot begin until the rescue is complete because the operation could cause the vessel to move or sink further into the water.

Honeymoon couple rescued from stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship

A South Korean couple have been rescued from the Costa Concordia and a third survivor has been located onboard the stricken Italian cruise ship.

(Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Three people were killed when the liner struck rocks and sank off the coast of Tuscany on Friday night and around 40 more people are missing.

Emergency services workers located a honeymooning couple stranded in one of the cabins above the water line, more than 24 hours after the Costa Cruises vessel ran aground.

The newlyweds, both in their late twenties, were helped from the half-submerged liner and taken ashore in the early hours of Sunday morning.

They were reported to be in good health, despite their ordeal.

(Picture: Reuters)

Firefighters continued to search the liner cabin-by-cabin and have spoken to another survivor, although they have not yet rescued the passenger.

The Costa Concordia had more than 4,200 people onboard when it got into difficulties close to the island of Giglio just hours after it began its voyage.

A chaotic evacuation operation that lasted six hours followed and most of the passengers and crew made it safely to dry land.

(Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

However, the bodies of two French holidaymakers and a Peruvian crew member were discovered and rescue workers fear the death toll could grow, as a number of people are still unaccounted for.

Italian prosecutors have arrested the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, and first officer, Ciro Ambrosio, on suspicion of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship before their passengers were safe.

海難事故：豪華客船が座礁、乗客ら６人死亡…イタリア沖 01/14/12（毎日新聞）

　ＡＰ通信などによると、イタリア中部トスカーナ州沖合のジリオ島付近で１３日深夜、乗客乗員約４２００人を乗せたイタリアの豪華客船が浅瀬で座礁、浸水した。乗客らは救命ボートで脱出したが、脱出の際に６人が死亡、約３０人がけがをした。

　乗客乗員の数については、約５７００人との報道もある。在イタリア日本大使館によると、これまで日本人が被害に遭ったとの情報はないが、確認作業を続けるという。

　死者のうち７０代の男性は病気で死亡したとみられる。残り５人の死因は不明だが、脱出の混乱の際、海に飛び込んだ人もいたという。

Cruise ship runs aground off Italy; deaths reported 01/14/12（Overhead Bin）

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services

A cruise ship with 4,200 people on board ran aground and ripped a 165-foot gash in its hull off the Tuscan island of Giglio on Friday night, and local officials reported that at least six people died. Some on the island said eight were dead.

At least three bodies were recovered from the sea, the Italian coast guard reported.

Helicopters were working to pluck to safety some 50 people still trapped aboard the badly listing Costa Concordia on Saturday, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo.

Some people were thrown into the sea when the Costa Concordia started listing, others jumped to evacuate the ship, officials said.

The ship, which reportedly cost more than $680 million, was three-quarters under water and sinking fast, a Giglio hotel clerk told NBC News on Saturday.

The Telegraph of London said some passengers jumped from the steeply listing ship and swam a short distance to the island. A photo showed the brightly lit ship teetering just outside a harbor wall.

One official said that among the dead was a man around age 65, who might have been ill or who might not have withstood the cold of the sea at night, Il Messagero said.

The 950-foot Costa Concordia had left the port of Savona at 7 p.m. local time and was sailing to Civitavecchia, its first port of call, when it ran aground around 9 p.m.

A rocky reef

Costa Cruises said 3,200 passengers were aboard, along with 1,023 crew members. Coast Guard Officials said the liner was listing at 20 degrees but was not in danger of sinking.

Paolillo, the coast guard official, speaking from the port captain's office in the Tuscan port of Livorno, said the vessel "hit an obstacle" -- it wasn't clear if it might have hit a rocky reef in the waters off Giglio -- "ripping a gash 50 meters (165 feet) across" on the left side of the ship, and started taking on water.

The cruise liner's captain, Paolillo said, then tried to steer his ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio's small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier. But after the ship started listing badly onto its right side, lifeboat evacuation was no longer feasible, Paolillo said.

By 1:20 a.m. Saturday the evacuation of passengers and crew had been virtually completed. But Il Messaggero said about 200 remained on board and would have to be airlifted out by helicopters. The ship's worsening position was making it difficult to complete the evacuation, officials said.

Town officials were trying to find places for the evacuees to spend the night.

A clerk at the Bahamas hotel told NBC News that 1,000 people were sheltering there. A crew member at the hotel told the clerk he heard two loud noises and the ship started leaning to one side almost immediately.

Some passengers panicked as some jumped into the cold sea to swim ashore, the clerk said.

'Very strange'

The first evacuated passengers were taken to a church for shelter on the tiny island. The church pastor told Il Messagero that women in suits and highheels were camped out in pews with frightened children. Other passsengers were taken to schools and hotels on the island, said Italian news agency ANSA.

Sky News quoted passenger Luciano Castro as telling Italian media: ''We were having dinner when all of a sudden the lights went out. It seemed as if the ship struck something and then we heard a loud bang and everything fell to the floor.

''The captain immediately came on the tannoy and said that there had been an electrical fault but it seemed very strange as the ship almost immediately began to list to one side. The glasses just slid off the table."

"It was like a scene from the Titanic," another passenger aboard, journalist Mara Parmegiani, told ANSA.

One woman also told The Telegraph: "It was just like something out of the Titanic. You could tell straight away that the ship had hit something and no way was it an electrical fault."

Passengers were first asked to put on life jackets as a precaution, witnesses said, but it soon became clear the situation was more serious when the abandon-ship signal was sounded, ANSA said.

The Costa Concordia, according to a Costa Cruises statement obtained by NBC News, was sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, starting from Civitavecchia with scheduled calls to Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo. About 1,000 passengers of Italian nationality were aboard, as well as more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and about 1,000 crew members.

The company said it would cooperate with authorities to determine what caused the emergency.

Passengers Panic As Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Begins to Sink 01/08/12（Cruise Law News）

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Jim Walker

Costa Cruise Lines' Costa Concordia cruise ship has evacuated most of its passengers after a disastrous situation this evening near the island of Giglio in southern Tuscany, Italy.

Media reports are mixed and suggest that the cruise ship either struck an island pier, with what some people are describing as an "unbelievable" photo (below), or the vessel ran aground near the island and subsequently beached itself hear this lighthouse on the pier.

The allision or grounding ruptured the hull and water entered the vessel, leading to the evacuation of many of the 4,231 passengers and crew from the stricken cruise ship into lifeboats.

The official statements from the cruise line are factually vague. There is no explanation regarding the cause of the grounding. The cruise line proclaims that the passengers are "not at risk," but this is probably the usual misleading and false cruise propaganda. Some media sources are reporting that there are passengers who are dead. Media sources are reporting between 2 to 9 passegers died.

The Italian cruise ship carrying 3,200 passengers and approximately one thousand crewmembers. The Costa Concordia had departed from for a Mediterranean cruise to Civitavecchia, Palermo, Cagliari, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, ​​Marseille and back to Savona.

The cruise ship began to heel to one side, and the passengers were instructed to use their life jackets and congregate on the cruise ship's deck to abandon ship.

News sources are quoting a passenger describing the mishap similar to the Titanic disaster, "with a scramble among the evacuees, screaming and crying."

Tycoon disaster update 01/09/12 (Maritime Bulletin)

The hapless Tycoon reportedly, broke in two, fuel is leaking out, though 100 tons of fuel on board hardly may cause an ecological disaster. No salvage and cleaning operations are possible at the moment due to stormy weather. The Flying Fish Cove seems to be open for wind and sea from certain directions, it’s strange nobody directed vessel to move out of port before the oncoming storm. All in all, it seems like m/v Tycoon is the first ocean-going freighter to sink in year 2012. A record hardly to be coveted.



First news:

Taiwanese freighter Tycoon sank in Christmas Island harbor

Monday, January 09, 2012

General cargo vessel Tycoon had been loading phosphate on Christmas Island, Indian ocean, for three days when it was pushed against the sea wall by a heavy swell at Flying Fish Cove on Jan 8 2012. Vessel broke its mooring and suffered damage down one side of its hull as it tore against the rocks. The 15 crew was forced to jump into the ocean to waiting navy rescuers, none were injured, they’ve been taken to shore to temporary accomodation. Tycoon partially sank, sending phosphate across the reef and damaging the crane that loads supplies to residents and the island's detention centre. Tycoon remains visible but its hull is sitting on the bottom of the cove after a night smashing against the island's jagged cliffs. A supply vessel due to dock at Christmas Island Jan 8 was unable to unload cargo because of the potential damage and the dangerous seas. Residents say the stench of diesel from the vessel is overpowering and worry about the effect on the island's iconic red crabs. Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, 360 km (220 mi) south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, coordinates 10 29S 105 38E. General cargo vessel Tycoon IMO 8304220, dwt 4129, built 1983, flag Panama, manager OCEAN GROW INTERNATIONAL, Taiwan. Pics of distressed Tycoon and crew rescue from Australian media.

tycoon-0

Cargo ship, Rena, splits in two off New Zealand coast 01/08/12（NYDailyNews.com）

By The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A cargo ship grounded off the New Zealand coast since October has split in two, spilling sea containers and debris and sparking fears of a fresh oil spill, maritime officials said Sunday.

The wreck of the Greek-owned Rena was described as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster even before the rear section of the ship, lashed by pounding seas, broke away overnight. The ship previously spilled heavy fuel oil that fouled pristine North Island beaches and killed up to 20,000 seabirds, and despite salvage efforts nearly 400 tons of oil remain onboard.

Maritime officials said the front section of the wreck remains stuck in its original position, but the stern section slipped at least 100 feet (30 meters) away from the bow and is “moving significantly,” pounded by 19-foot (6-meter) swells.

The storm that split the vessel will continue for another three to four days, Maritime New Zealand spokesman Ross Henderson said.

Officials said up to 300 of the roughly 880 containers that had been on board were lost when the ship broke apart. Of those, about 30 percent had been fitted with monitoring devices and some 30 containers had already been located.

Oil has been seen leaking from the broken ship. Alex van Wijngaarden, on-scene commander for the national response team, said oil from the vessel could come ashore around midnight Sunday.

“While reports at this stage indicate there has not been a significant release of oil, with the Rena in its current fragile state, a further release is likely,” he said. “While it is unknown at this stage exactly how much oil may be released, teams have been mobilized and will be ready to respond to anything that may come ashore.”

Environment Minister Nick Smith told reporters that the “risks for the environment are a fraction of what they were in October,” though the roughly 385 tons of oil still aboard the ship is about the same amount that leaked from the vessel soon after it ran aground. Salvage crews previously removed 1,100 tons of oil from the ship.

Most of the oil is in tanks in the stern section, which could end up sinking. Some of that oil could end up dissipating in the ocean rather than washing up on beaches.

The containers, meanwhile, spilled goods including timber, wool, bales of recycled plastic and bags of milk powder. The debris could begin washing ashore later Sunday.

Some containers have been sighted floating up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of the stricken ship, Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said.

“They have been caught in a strong coastal current” fueled by the storm, he said.

The Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef 14 miles (22 kilometers) from Tauranga Harbor on North Island on Oct. 5.

Salvage crews have plucked 389 of the ship’s 1,370 loaded cargo containers from its decks since it ran aground, while some 98 have been washed over board in the past three months.

One eyewitness, Warwick Roberts, said the rear section was sliding along the reef.

The “stern has reared up and center section is not visible. Large breaking waves observed on bow,” he told the New Zealand Herald website.

A two-mile (three-kilometer) no-go zone is in force around the wreck.

Investigations by The Associated Press last month revealed that Australian authorities impounded the vessel, but released it the next day after Liberian maritime authorities intervened, essentially saying the ship was safe to sail and the problems could be fixed later. The Rena, like many ships, is registered in Liberia.

Some 10 weeks later, the Rena ran full-steam into a well-marked reef off the coast of New Zealand. It’s not clear whether the previously identified problems played any role.

The captain and Rena’s navigating officer face criminal charges of operating a ship in a dangerous or risky manner, polluting the environment and altering the ship’s documents after the crash.

STX Pan Ocean: Damage to Vale Beijing “Reparable” 01/04/12（GCaptain）

RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones) — South Korean company STX Pan Ocean Co. (028670.SE, GZ9.SG) said Wednesday that the Vale Beijing vessel which developed cracks in its hull when loading Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) iron ore in northeast Brazil in December, has been safely moved to an anchorage and that the damage is reparable.

STX, which is the owner and operator of the ship, has started an “extensive action plan for repairs” on the Vale Beijing and the ship will thereafter be able to sail as the damage is partial, the company said in a statement. However, it is still too early to ascertain the real cause of the problem, and the investigation into the causes of the incident continues, it said.

Mining company Vale’s Ponta da Madeira port terminal where the problem occurred is operating normally and STX believes the problem didn’t stem from the port or the loading operation, it said.

Vale Beijing, reportedly the world’s largest iron ore carrier, and which has been leased to Vale, developed cracks in its hull on Dec. 3 while it was loading iron ore at Ponta da Madeira in Maranhao state, for export. The 400,000-ton vessel was on its maiden voyage, and is still loaded with 260,000 metric tons of iron ore.

No observable damage has occurred to the environment as a result of the ship’s problem and its removal to safe anchorage, STX said, noting that representatives of Brazil’s federal environmental protection agency Ibama, as well as of Brazil’s Navy and Vale, have accompanied the vessel’s relocation.

The situation is “under control,” STX said.

Vale Beijing is one of eight vessels that STX will charter to Vale, and the other seven vessels in the series are also now being assessed, the South Korean company said.

“While we expect that the exact cause of the (Vale Beijing) incident may only be determined when we dry dock the vessel, we believe that this incident is an isolated problem and should not impact the other vessels built elsewhere and under different projects,” STX said. “We are confident in the robustness of vessels built of this size and class.”

–By Diana Kinch, Dow Jones Newswires

Bulk Carrier VLOC 'Vale Beijing' – Dry-dock Next Destination 01/01/12（SeaNews）

A few days ago VLOC Vale Beijing was towed off the berth to avoid risk of foundering alongside the Vale iron ore loading terminal at Ponta Madeira, having earlier reported ingress of water to a partly loaded cargo hold.

Good news and bad for Vale as the Old Year gave way to the New. First the good news: after a six month delay since these columns told of the maiden voyage of VLOC Vale Brasil at long last a Valemax VLOC (Berge Everest) gained China entry to discharge iron ore from the Vale conglomerate’s Brazil minefields.

The bad news, also coming before Christmas, concerned another of their juggernauts, Vale Beijing. A few days ago VLOC Vale Beijing was towed off the berth to avoid risk of foundering alongside the Vale iron ore loading terminal at Ponta Madeira, having earlier reported ingress of water to a partly loaded cargo hold. According to Lloyd’s List a full hull scan by robot device confirmed cracks to the hull with the ship’s three ballast pumps working around the clock to contain the flow. What is the extent of the damage to the Vale Beijing? Vale Beijing Structural Damage In a few words, the hull plating was found to have cracked in the vicinity of a water ballast tank, and from there water was making its way into a cargo hold.

Vale Beijing is classed by DNV whose preliminary inspection reportedly described (in addition to the crack in outer hull plating) fairly substantial internal damage to web frames and longitudinals in the vicinity of the water ballast tank. Informed opinion considers such damage a likely consequence of excess localised stresses in the hull structure sustained while loading the heavy ore. An available dry-dock capable of handling the 362 m (1,188 ft) long VLOC is being sought.

Vale Contingency Plan for Shipping Ore to China

Reuters New Agency reports a Vale contingency plan should China revoke its decision to allow Valemax ships to enter their harbours on safety grounds. They have it in mind to moor a large floating storage vessel (one of the Vale fleet perhaps?) in Subic Bay in the Philippines where iron ore would be transhipped the comparatively short remaining distance to China in smaller bulk carriers. If forced to take this option in order to reach a vital market Vale would give up much of the economic advantage it had set out to gain.

貨物船からロシア人転落、行方不明　茨城 12/27/11（産経新聞）

　２５日夜、茨城港常陸那珂港区（ひたちなか市）に着岸中のモンゴル船籍の貨物船（４４６４トン）から「乗組員が海中に転落した」と通報があった。転落したのはロシア人乗組員、アナトリー・キセルさん（６２）。同日午後１０時半ごろ、乗組員２人が甲板に出た際、海面に浮いているキセルさんを発見。救命ロープを投げたが、海中に沈み行方不明になった。転落した様子は目撃されていない。（茨城海上保安部発表）

宗谷海峡においてカンボジアＦＯＣ船が遭難”Гинга”(銀河） 12/26/11 (ロシア漁業ニュースヘッドライン)

２０１１年１２月２６日 サハリン発
[宗谷海峡においてカンボジアＦＯＣ船が遭難]
サハリン島と日本北海道の間の宗谷海峡において、カンボジアＦＯＣ船が遭難し、ロシア人乗組員５名が行方不明となった。
サハリン時間１２月２４日土曜日０８００、救難信号が確認された。
遭難船の捜索にあたっている"Пасифик Интерпрайс"（パシフィックインテルプレイス）"Залив Васильева"（ザリフワシリエワ）と日本海上保安庁によると、３名の乗組員の遺体が発見され、この内２名はロシア人だった。
この遭難船について、ロシア貿易連合副議長スハノフは、おそらくカニの密漁密輸を行ってきたカンボジアＦＯＣ船“ＧＩＮＧＡ”（Гинга銀河）だろうと語った。
“ＧＩＮＧＡ”にはインドネシア人も混乗していた模様で、船主との確認はまだとれていない。
（北海道新聞から転載12/25 23:34）
宗谷岬沖でカンボジア船籍貨物船遭難　３人死亡、５人不明
２５日午前３時半ごろ、稚内市の宗谷岬沖北東約３５キロの海上でカンボジア船籍の貨物船「ＧＩＮＧＡ」（１９トン、乗組員８人）が救難信号を発信し、第１管区海上保安本部（小樽）が受信した。１管本部の航空機２機と巡視船１隻が捜索したところ、海面に救命胴衣を着けて浮かぶ男性２人の遺体を発見。ロシア側海域でも１人の遺体が収容された。１管本部は同船が沈没したとみて、ほかの乗組員と船の行方を捜索している。
（以下参考過去情報”Гинга”事件）
２０１１年０２月０８日　サハリン発
[サハリン国境警備局が２隻のカンボジアFOC船を拘束]
ロシアFSBサハリン国境警備局は、２月１週の終わりに、タタール海峡ロシア排他的経済水域で２隻のカンボジアFOC船を拘束したと発表した。
２月５日０８４０（サハリン時間）当局が”Прайд 7”(プライド７）を、チェックアウト検査した際、違法な、カニ漁獲のための餌、冷凍スケトウダラ８００ｋｇ、同ニシン９００ｋｇ、そして専用漁具４００ケおよび活魚水槽が発見された。
また、２月６日０２２６（サハリン時間）、当局が”Гинга”(銀河）を停船させ検査したところ違法な冷凍スケトウダラ５００ｋｇとカニ専用漁具２００ケが発見された。
”Гинга”にはロシア人乗組員８名と、リストにないインドネシア人２名が乗船していた。

カンボジア貨物船が遭難、３人死亡　北海道・宗谷岬沖 12/25/11 (朝日新聞)

　北海道稚内市・宗谷岬の北東約３５キロのオホーツク海上で２５日未明、航行中だったカンボジア船籍の貨物船「ＧＩＮＧＡ」（１９トン）が遭難した。第１管区海上保安本部によると、乗っていたのはロシア国籍の５人とインドネシア国籍の３人の計８人とみられ、３人の死亡が確認され、５人の行方がわかっていない。

　現場は宗谷海峡の日本とロシアの境界線付近。１管によると、午前３時半ごろ同船が発信したとみられる救難信号があり、ロシア側とともに捜索を始めた。１管は午前８時４５分ごろ、救命胴衣を着た２人を発見。午前１０時半ごろ、巡視船で救出したが、死亡が確認された。２人はロシア人男性とみられ、洋上でロシア側の船舶に引き渡した。ロシア側からは「日本時間の午前１０時ごろ、１人の遺体を引き揚げた」との連絡を受けたという。性別や国籍はわかっていない。

　現場付近には救命用の浮輪や多数のかごがあったが、船が見つからないことから沈没したとみられるという。１管によると、同船はカニなどの漁獲物を積み、２６日朝に稚内港に入る予定だった。

　２５日午前８時半ごろの現場海域の天候はくもりで、秒速１０メートルの南西の風が吹き、波の高さは２メートルだった。

3 people dead, 5 missing after Cambodia-flagged ship sinks off Russia's east coast 12/25/11 (The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION,Winnipeg Free Press)
By: The Associated Press

MOSCOW - Rescue vessels and a helicopter are searching for five people missing in a fierce storm off Russia's east coast after a Cambodia-flagged ship sank early Sunday.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a statement that it has recovered three bodies from the icy waters of the La Perouse Strait, which lies between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan.

The accident took place in the same waters in which a Russian floating oil rig capsized and sank last Sunday killing 17 people. Thirty-six people are still missing, feared dead.

Officials said five of the Cambodia-flagged ship's crew were Russian, and the others are Indonesian. Two of the dead have been identified as Russian nationals, and one remains unidentified.

The ship, named Ginga, was sailing through the Russian waters from a Japanese port. Russian news agencies reported that it was a fishing boat.

Emergencies Ministry representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Two trawlers, a Russian helicopter, a rescue vessel, two steamboats and a Japanese maritime safety department ship were conducting the search. Efforts were hampered by strong winds and meters-high waves.

Nikolay Sukhanov, a top official from Russia's Sailors Union, told RIA Novosti that he thought that the size of the crew, its flag and route could suggest that the ship was poaching in the waters on the Russian-Japanese maritime border.

Russian rig sinks, more than 50 feared dead 12/19/11 (ロイター)
By Thomas Grove and Melissa Akin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A drilling rig with 67 crew on board capsized and sank off Russia's far eastern island of Sakhalin on Sunday while being towed through a winter storm, leaving more than 50 dead or missing in the icy Sea of Okhotsk.

Emergency officials said the crew of an icebreaker and tugboat rescued 14 workers alive from the jack-up rig, the 'Kolskaya', which was operated by a Russian offshore exploration firm. They recovered four bodies from the water.

"The Kolskaya keeled to its side ... and sank within 20 minutes. The depth of the water at the site is 1,042 metres (3,400 feet)," Russia's federal water transport agency said on its website.

Four of the survivors, suffering from hypothermia, were airlifted by helicopter to land and taken to hospital after the disaster struck at 12:45 p.m. (0145 GMT).

The rest of the crew were missing, 200 km (125 miles) off the coast of remote Sakhalin island. The water temperature was one degree Celsius (33.8 Fahrenheit), giving survivors around 30 minutes before freezing to death, according to maritime and rescue websites.

Three rescue craft, as well as helicopters, were sent to scour the waters for survivors from the rig owned by Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka (AMNGR), a unit of state-owned Zarubezhneft.

"There is no ecological danger. The vessel was carrying the minimum amount of fuel as it was being tugged by two craft," said a spokesman for AMNGR.

The incident was a blow to efforts by Russia, the world's largest energy producer, to step up offshore oil and gas exploration to stave off a long-term decline in onshore production.

The jack-up rig, which has three support legs that can be extended to the ocean floor while its hull floats on the surface, was heading from Kamchatka to Sakhalin when it overturned in stormy conditions with a swell of up to 6 metres.

"(President) Dmitry Medvedev has ordered all necessary assistance be provided to the victims of the drilling platform accident and has ordered a probe into the circumstances of the loss of the platform," the Kremlin said. The Emergencies Ministry said it would work through Sunday night.

GAZPROM OFFSHORE DRILLING

Russia's federal Investigative Committee, which answers to the president, said it would investigate the accident and would question rescued workers as well as those responsible for organising the towing of the craft.

"The violation of safety rules during the towing of the drilling rig, as well as towing without consideration of the weather conditions ... are believed to be the cause of the (disaster)," investigators said on their website.

The 'Neftegaz-55' tugboat, also owned by AMNGR, had been towing the Kolskaya and took part in the search effort, but pulled out after suffering hull damage from the high waves.

The tug, carrying most of the crew rescued from the rig, had taken on water and was trying to limp to port. An icebreaker, the 'Magadan', was still at the scene.

As night fell, an air search team was called off, and another was set to resume the quest for survivors the next day.

"With daybreak the search from the air will continue with an Mi-8 helicopter along with the sea teams," agency Itar-Tass reported an Emergencies Ministry official as saying.

The rig, built in Finland in 1985, had been working on a minor gas production project in the Sea of Okhotsk for a unit of state-controlled gas export monopoly Gazprom, the company said.

Russia's prize offshore gas and oil fields lie northeast of Sakhalin. Two major offshore projects are already producing oil and gas off the island: Sakhalin-1, operated by Exxonmobil and Sakhalin-2, in which Gazprom has a controlling stake.

The disaster is unlikely to seriously affect oil or gas production. AMNGR said the vessel was no longer under contract when it sank.

Operating conditions in the region, explored by Soviet geologists in the 1960s and 1970s, are among the harshest for Russian energy companies.

WINTER CONDITIONS

Winter often lasts 220-240 days in the waters off Sakhalin, where the main companies operating are ExxonMobil, Gazprom, and Royal Dutch Shell. They produce oil and gas, sometimes in icebound conditions, for export largely to Asian markets.

Sakhalin-2, in which Shell and Mitsui also have stakes, produces 10 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas at Russia's only LNG plant in the port of Prigorodnoye for export to Asia, much of it to Japan.

Each tanker of crude oil produced by at the 160,000 barrels-per-day Sakhalin-1 project, operated by ExxonMobil, is escorted by two icebreakers when ice thickness reaches 60 cm (2 feet).

State-controlled Rosneft this year reached a major deal with Exxon to explore for oil and gas in the Kara Sea, to the north of the Russian mainland, a largely unexplored region estimated to hold over 100 billion barrels of oil.

Poor infrastructure and chronic corner-cutting in Russia have contributed to several sea disasters, notably the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea in August 2000, in which all 118 aboard were killed.

(Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine; editing by Alistair Lyon)

和歌山・白浜沖でタンカー火災　機関士が死亡 12/17/11 (朝日新聞)

　１７日午前３時ごろ、和歌山県白浜町の市江崎灯台の西約１６キロの海上を航行していた国華産業（本社・東京）のタンカー第２英明丸（４９９トン、広島県福山市船籍）から出火した、と第５管区海上保安本部に無線連絡があった。

　田辺海上保安部によると、機関室が燃え、室内で２等機関士の福留佑介さん（２６）＝宮崎市郡司分＝が発見された。福留さんはヘリコプターで近くの病院に搬送されたが、まもなく死亡が確認された。他の乗組員５人は無事だった。

　保安部によると、タンカーは岡山県の水島港から千葉港に向かう途中で、積み荷は無かった。タンカーは国華産業が手配したタグボートに引航されて、同日午前８時半に田辺港に到着。保安部の職員が出火原因を調べている。

紀伊水道でタンカー機関室から出火、機関士死亡 12/17/11 (読売新聞)

　１７日午前２時５０分頃、和歌山県白浜町の沖合約１６キロの紀伊水道で、国華産業（東京都千代田区）が運航するタンカー「第二英明丸」（４９９トン、大磯勝則船長ら６人乗り組み）の機関室から出火した。

　火は乗組員が消し止めたが、室内で機関士の福留佑介さん（２６）（宮崎市）が倒れていた。タンカーは約５時間３０分後、タグボートで同県田辺市の田辺湾内にえい航され、福留さんは第５管区海上保安本部のヘリコプターなどで同町内の病院に運ばれたが、死亡が確認された。

　田辺海上保安部の発表によると、タンカーに積み荷はなく、岡山県倉敷市の水島港から千葉県の千葉港へ向かっていた。同保安部で出火原因などを調べている。

General cargo vessel Edro III ran aground in Cyprus 12/8/11 (Maritime Bulletin)
General cargo vessel Edro III ran aground in Cyprus, Coral Bay (Paphos area) presumably on Dec 8, AIS showed vessel in position 34 52N 032 20E. Edro III left Limassol for Rhodes and ran aground, assumedly, due to rough weather. A helicopter from a British base near Limassol airlifted seven of the nine-member crew, master and chief engineer stay on board. The crew consists of seven Albanians and two Egyptians. Authorities said they will tow the ship back to port. General cargo vessel Edro III IMO 6613316, dwt 2345, built 1966, flag Sierra Leone, manager EDRO SHPK, Albania. Pic of the vessel aground is taken at 06:30 8 DEC 2011, see pic at http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1451991

One of the biggest floating objects on Earth just can’t start sinking without reason: the Vale Beijing Accident 16/6/11 (Maritime Bulletin)

Fears are growing that Chinamax VLOC Vale Beijing may sink at Ponta da Madiera port, Brazil, due to water ingress in cargo hold or holds, and all the difficulties connected with patching the leak of the giant vessel in full load. Vale Beijing is loaded with 381,300 tonnes of iron ore, worth $53 million based on Monday's spot iron ore price, and was bound for Rotterdam. Vessel was to be moved to anchorage from pier where she was loaded, Vale said in a statement late on Monday Dec 5, but by 1200 UTC Dec 6 vessel is still moored. Nobody said yet what caused water ingress, media is accentuating on water ingress from ballast tank or tanks to cargo hold or holds, but that’s consequence, not the cause of the trouble. Manager of the vessel, STX Pan Ocean, didn’t go into details of an accident, saying only that "Sinking is the worst-case scenario, but we believe that the situation is not that serious."

Situation seems to be serious, though, because a brand new giant vessel, one of the biggest floating objects on Earth, just can’t start sinking in a safe port without a substantial reason. Nobody mentioned possibility of underwater hull damages due to grounding or collision, so there is enough reason to assume, for the time being, that vessel has some design and construction flaws. The Vale Beijing is the first in a range of very large ore carriers (VLOC) costing around $110 million each, to be delivered by shipbuilder STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, another unit of STX Group. Hapless Vale Beijing docked in Ponta da Madiera. VLOC Vale Beijing IMO 9575448, dwt 404389, built 2011, flag Marshall Islands.

Previous news:

VLOC Vale Beijing in trouble?

Monday, December 05, 2011

There is a problem with mega bulk carrier Vale Beijing, it seems that vessel suffered cracks in the hull and resulting water ingress, vessel presently is in Ponta da Madeira port, Brazil, reported on Dec 5 2011 Bloomberg. Probably the trouble is more serious than it looks like, vessel is brand new and was delivered to manager, STX Pan Ocean (STX), on Sept 27 this year, so maybe it’s not some kind of an accident, but construction flaw.

対馬海峡で漁船転覆１人不明、韓国貨物船と衝突 11/28/11 (読売新聞)

　２７日午前５時頃、長崎県対馬市豊玉町の長崎鼻灯台から東約６０キロの対馬海峡で、韓国籍の貨物船「ＭＡＲＵＫＡ」（１４１６トン、８人乗り組み）と、福岡市中央区の水産会社「海漁水産」所有のイカ釣り漁船「第１８海漁丸」（１６トン、２人乗り組み）が衝突。海漁丸が大破して転覆し、機関長の越智要さん（５８）（福岡県宗像市池浦）の行方が分からなくなった。

　対馬海上保安部によると海漁丸船長の築城義輝さん（４６）（福岡市中央区大手門）も海に投げ出されたが、貨物船に救助された。けがは軽い擦過傷。

　海漁丸の船体は前後二つに割れ、船首側の３分の１程度が海上に浮かび、残りは沈んだ。貨物船は自力で対馬・厳原(いづはら)港に入った。築城船長と貨物船の金甲碩(キムカスク)船長（６５）はいずれも「漁船の左舷に貨物船が衝突した」と説明しているという。

韓国船籍の貨物船と福岡の漁船衝突、１人不明 11/27/11 (読売新聞)

　２７日午前５時頃、長崎県対馬市（対馬）の東約６０キロ沖の対馬海峡で、韓国船籍の貨物船「ＭＡＲＵＫＡ」（１４１６トン、８人乗り組み）と福岡市中央区の「海漁水産」所属のイカ釣り漁船「第１８海漁丸」（１０トン、２人乗り組み）が衝突。海漁丸が転覆し、乗組員２人が海に投げ出された。

　船長の築城義輝さん（４６）（福岡市中央区）は貨物船に救助されたが、機関長の越智要さん（５８）（福岡県宗像市）の行方が分からなくなっている。

　対馬海上保安部が巡視艇やヘリを出して捜索に当たっている。事故当時、現場海域は晴れていて、視界は良かったという。

「扉の開放が原因」　長崎・五島沖の漁船沈没１０人死亡事故　運輸安全委 11/25/11 (産経新聞)

　長崎県五島市沖で平成２２年１月、底引き網漁船「第２山田丸」が沈没し乗組員１０人が死亡した事故で、運輸安全委員会は２５日、機関室の扉が開いていたために海水が船内に入り沈没につながったとする調査報告書をまとめた。

　報告書によると、引き上げた同船を確認したところ、外板に損傷はなく、機関室など複数の扉が開いていた。事故当時、約４メートル以上の波を受け、甲板に乗りあげた海水が機関室出入り口に到着し、開いていた扉から室内に浸水。船が傾いたため、その後も浸水は断続的に続いたとみられる。

　浸水から約３～５分で船は沈没した可能性があるという。浸水で電源を失い船内の照明灯が消えたため、乗組員は短時間に脱出することが困難だったとみられる。

　同委員会は「わずかな浸水でも船体が傾き、その後も浸水が続くことで沈没の恐れがある」と指摘。その上で、船舶関係者に甲板上の出入り口扉を閉めて航行することを呼びかけている。

“漁船沈没の原因は扉開放” 11/25/11 (NHK)

去年１月、長崎県の五島列島沖で底引き網漁船が沈没して乗組員１０人全員が死亡した事故で、国の運輸安全委員会は、甲板から船内に通じる扉が開いていたため押し寄せた波が船内に入り、沈没した可能性が高いという報告書を公表し、すべての船舶に対して、航行中は甲板の扉を閉めるべきだと指摘しました。

この事故は、去年１月、長崎県の五島列島沖で、底引き網漁船の「第二山田丸」が沈没して、日本人４人、中国人６人の乗組員１０人全員が死亡したものです。国の運輸安全委員会は、模型の船で再現実験を行うなどして事故の原因を調べ、報告書を公表しました。それによりますと、事故当時、波の高さは２メートル程度でしたが、漁船は、波が短い周期で連続して押し寄せる場合に一定の確率で発生する大波を受けたとみられています。そして、漁船の甲板と機関室をつなぐ２つの扉が開いていたため、押し寄せた波が船内に入り込み、機関室や魚を入れる倉庫に海水がたまり、左側に傾いたまま元に戻らず沈没した可能性が高いということです。また、船内への浸水が始まってから沈没するまでの時間は３分から５分程度しかなく、発電機が水につかって照明が消えたため、事故が起きた夜明け前の暗闇の中で、乗組員が脱出するのは難しかったということです。もし仮に甲板の扉が閉じられていれば、同じ条件でも沈没しなかったとみられ、運輸安全委員会は、すべての船舶に対して、航行中は甲板にある扉を閉めるべきだと指摘しました。

貨物船衝突事故、不適切な見張りが原因 11/25/11 (TBS JNN)

　おととし、伊豆大島沖で貨物船同士が衝突し、乗組員１６人が現在も行方不明になっている事故で、運輸安全委員会は夜間の見張りが適切でなかったことが事故の原因とする調査報告書をまとめました。

　この事故はおととし３月、伊豆大島の沖合で韓国船籍の貨物船がパナマ船籍の貨物船と衝突して沈没し、乗組員１６人が現在も行方不明になっているものです。

　運輸安全委員会は、パナマ船籍の貨物船で夜間の当直にあたっていたミャンマー国籍の航海士が、自動衝突予防援助装置の扱いに慣れていなかったうえ、適切に見張りをしていなかったことが事故の原因とする調査報告書をまとめました。

　この事故をめぐっては、当時、海上保安庁が航海士を業務上過失往来妨害の疑いで逮捕しています。（25日12:50）

貨物船が座礁、燃料漏れの可能性…苫小牧沖 11/24/11 (産経新聞)

　２４日午前２時３０分頃、北海道苫小牧市元町の約４００メートル沖の浅瀬（水深５メートル）で、パナマ船籍の貨物船「プロパル　プログレス」（１万８８６６トン）から「座礁した」と、室蘭海上保安部に通報があった。

　同海保によると、同船では、浸水や乗組員の中国人２４人の負傷はないが、燃料油が漏れている可能性があるという。海上保安庁は、東京・羽田航空基地からヘリコプターで特殊救難隊員を救助に派遣し、船の損傷状況などを調べている。

　札幌管区気象台などによると、同市では同日未明、低気圧から延びる前線が通過し、最大瞬間風速２２・１メートル、４～５メートルの高波を観測するなど大荒れ状態で、同気象台は竜巻の注意情報を出すなど、警戒を呼びかけていた。

　同船は２０日に神戸を出港、米を積むため、苫小牧に入港する予定だったが、２４日午前０時４０分頃、「苫小牧港西港沖で停泊中、いかりがきかず、強風で船が流されている」と、室蘭海保に通報していた。

しけで船転覆、乗組員２人死亡　沖縄・糸満沖 11/10/11 (産経新聞)

　　１０日午前９時４０分ごろ、沖縄県糸満市の喜屋武漁港沖約２キロで、なぎさ海運（北九州市）の押し船、第８なぎさ丸（１９トン、３人乗り組み）が転覆しているのが見つかり、乗組員の塩谷哲二さん（３８）＝長崎県平戸市＝と中村順一さん（５９）＝鹿児島県南九州市＝が死亡した。

　船長の麻谷亮輔さん（４３）＝長崎県川棚町＝は救助され無事だった。

　第１１管区海上保安本部（那覇）によると、なぎさ丸は１０日午前８時ごろ、那覇港を出港し、約１時間後にしけのため転覆、沈没したという。

　同保安本部の航空機が午前１１時１５分ごろ、漂流している塩谷さんと中村さんを発見。巡視艇が救助したが、いずれも死亡が確認された。

　なぎさ丸は６日に北九州市の若松港を出て、８日に那覇港に到着した。

タグボートが高波受け転覆、２人死亡…沖縄 11/10/11 (産経新聞)

　１０日午前９時３５分頃、沖縄県糸満市の２キロ沖合で船が転覆しているのを通行人が見つけ、１１８番した。

　第１１管区海上保安本部（那覇市）の巡視艇などが漂流していた男性３人を救助したが、うち２人は心肺停止の状態で、間もなく死亡が確認された。

　１１管によると、３人は海運会社「なぎさ海運」（北九州市）所属のタグボート「第八なぎさ丸」（１９トン、３人乗り組み）の乗組員で、死亡したのは鹿児島県南九州市知覧町南別府、中村順一さん（５９）と、長崎県平戸市獅子町、塩谷哲二さん（３８）。船長の同県川棚町、麻谷亮輔さん（４３）は無事だった。

　同日午前８時頃、沖縄県浦添市を出発し、沖縄本島南東の作業現場に向かう途中、高波を受けて転覆、沈没したという。

関門海峡で大型貨物船が座礁…けが人なし 11/02/11 (読売新聞)

　２日午後０時５０分頃、北九州市門司区沖の関門海峡で、リベリア籍の貨物船「ベガ　ソンジャ」（７１７０トン、フィリピン人と中国人の１６人乗り組み）から、「エンジンが故障し、浅瀬に乗り上げた」と、第７管区海上保安本部（北九州市）に無線で通報があった。

　門司海上保安部によると、乗組員にけがはなく、油の流出も確認されていない。韓国・釜山から東京にコンテナを積んで航行中だった。タグボート２隻が現場に到着し、３日以降、沖合にえい航する予定。

　現場は航路から外れており、門司海保は乗組員から事情を聞いている。昨年９月には、韓国籍のタンカー（約３９００トン）がほぼ同じ海域で座礁した。

Officers from grounded cargo ship face new charges in New Zealand 11/02/11 (philstar.com)
WELLINGTON (Xinhua) -- Two senior officers from a cargo ship which grounded on a New Zealand reef for almost a month will face further charges relating to the incident, the country's shipping authority announced Wednesday.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said it was laying one charge each against the master of the Liberian-flagged Rena and its second officer relating to the "discharge of harmful substances from ships or offshore installations."

A conviction could incur a maximum penalty of a fine of 300,000 NZ dollars (238,110 U.S. dollars) or two years in prison, as well as a fine of 10,000 NZ dollars for every day the offending continues, said an MNZ statement.

The two officers, both Filipinos, were last month charged with "operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk " and were remanded on bail without plea at the Tauranga District Court.

That charge carried a maximum fine of 10,000 NZ dollars or a jail term of up to 12 months, said the statement.

The court ordered their names and identities to be suppressed.

Also Wednesday, MNZ officials said the Rena appeared to have withstood an overnight battering in 5-meter seas without sustaining any further damage.

Officials Tuesday said the worsening weather and mounting swells threatened to break apart the ship's buckled and cracked hull, and possibly release more oil and cargo containers into the sea.

MNZ salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson said no more containers had fallen overboard from the ship, which is listing precariously to the starboard.

"There is a light sheen of oil from the vessel, but this is consistent with what we have seen on previous flights and is likely to be further seepage from the duct keel," Anderson said in a statement.

An estimated 350 tonnes of fuel is still in the Rena's tanks after salvors managed to pump more than 1,000 tonnes off the vessel.

Weather conditions had eased early Wednesday, but moderate to strong winds and swells were forecast to continue for the next few days, said the statement.

The salvage team would return to the Rena when conditions allowed.

MNZ national on-scene commander Mick Courtnell said hundreds of volunteers as well as New Zealand Defence Force personnel were ready to help clean up any oil that washed ashore.

"The weather conditions are dynamic, and they affect the projected movement of oil. We are monitoring this closely, so we will know where to direct our resources if more oil is released," said Courtnell in the statement.

Oil from the Rena has killed an estimated 1,300 seabirds since the ship grounded on the Astrolabe Reef, about 12 nautical miles offshore near the port of Tauranga, on Oct. 5.

A total of 406 birds were being cared for at the oiled wildlife response center, including 60 New Zealand dotterel that were captured pre-emptively caught to protect the endangered species, said Courtnell.

Salvage crews prepare for stricken ship to break up on New Zealand reef By Paul Chapman in Wellington 11/01/11 （The Telegraph）
A crippled container ship leaking oil off the coast of New Zealand could break up in the next 24 hours as a storm sweeps in, officials have warned.

Sea swells of 15ft, gale force winds and heavy rain are expected to lash the Rena, stranded on the Astrolabe reef 12 nautical miles from the North Island port of Tauranga.

Salvage workers were forced to flee the 47,230-tonne ship after becoming alarmed by grinding noises as it moved around on the reef.

Bruce Anderson of Maritime New Zealand said: "Divers during an inspection noticed additional buckling towards the stern of the vessel."

"I saw some of the video from the divers and it looks like someone's just ripped a bit of the hull out.

"The salvors are clearly concerned about the state of the vessel," he said.

"The situation is looking increasingly precarious and we are preparing for the worst."

Officials warn that if the Rena does break up "it will be messy".

Besides oil, they fear hundreds more containers will wash overboard and the ship's stern could break away completely, creating a hazard to shipping.

Nathan Guy, the associate Minister of Transport, said: "We are in a very delicate situation currently, the next 24 to 36 hours are going to be extremely critical.

"The difficulty will be if containers fall into the water in the high seas that are predicted, the time it takes to get back out to sea, corral them, tie them with ties and buoys, and no one quite knows how long it will take for them to reach the beach."

The Liberian-flagged Rena has been wallowing on the reef since running aground on October 5, spilling hundreds of tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 88 containers into the sea.

Large numbers of birds have died and clean-up crews have been working to clear oil that washed ashore on favourite holiday beaches.

Salvors were using a window of good weather to pump oil from the stricken ship on to a waiting tanker, but 358 tonnes remaining in the Rena's tanks still pose a threat.

The government says the clean-up operation has cost NZ$10 million (£5 million) so far, and it is unclear who will be picking up the bill.

Ministers have described the grounding as New Zealand's "worst maritime environmental disaster".

Japanese mega-boxship sank Chinese freighter with North Korean crew 10/30/11（Maritime Bulletin）
At 1935 Beijing time Oct 28 off Qingdao, China, mega-boxship Hamburg Bridge collided with general cargo vessel Oriental Sunrise, which sank shortly after collision. Out of 19 crew of m/v Oriental Sunrise, all of whom believed to be People’s Democratic Republic of Korea citizen, 10 are missing. 9 were rescued, 3 of them were hospitalized, 1 died in a hospital and 2 are in critical condition. 13 vessels are taking part in S&R operation, looking for 10 missing sailors. The details of the collision are unknown. Here’s the pic from Chinese media showing sank freighter

General cargo vessel Oriental Sunrise IMO 8301436, dwt 4424, built 1983, flag Panama, manager DALIAN ALL STAR SHIP MGMT CO.

Boxship Hamburg Bridge IMO 9395159, capacity 9040 TEU, dwt 98849, built 2009, flag Panama, manager K LINE SHIP MANAGEMENT CO LTD Japan, service NE4 - North Europe Service 4. On pics remnants of Oriental Sunrise and Oriental Sunrise in better days.

1 dead,10 missing after vessel sinks 10/30/11 （CNC World）
A freighter sank Friday evening after colliding with another cargo ship off the coast of east China's port city of Qingdao, leaving one dead and 10 missing.

According to local municipal authorities, a total of 19 people were aboard the sunk vessel.

They are all believed to be nationals of Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Two of the rescued were seriously injured.

Rescue work is underway.

The two collided vessels are both Panama-flagged cargo ships.

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁：放置１年　撤去のめど立たず　／宮崎 10/29/11 (地方版　毎日新聞)

　◇「鬼の洗濯板」近く、イセエビ漁に打撃

　宮崎市折生迫の「鬼の洗濯板」近くに、ベリーズ船籍のしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）が座礁して１年が過ぎた。船を所有する中国の会社は、撤去する意思を県などに伝えているが、保険契約完了直前の事故だったため保険金が下りず、日程のめどは立っていない。現場周辺はイセエビの好漁場で、宮崎市漁協は漁へ深刻な被害が出ているとして、所有社に補償金支払いを求めている。【中村清雅】 　■方針転換

　しゅんせつ船は全長１２０メートル、船幅２０メートル。港湾工事などに使われる作業船で、タグボートでえい航中の昨年１０月２４日、ワイヤが切れて座礁した。

　所有社は船を浮上させて再利用する方針だった。契約した韓国のサルベージ会社が１月に試みたが、失敗。その後、７月の台風６号の接近で船体が大きく損壊したため、作業を引き継いだ鹿児島県のサルベージ会社との契約も９月に解除した。県や宮崎海上保安部に対し、所有社は「解体して撤去する」方針を伝えているという。

　■契約の狭間

　所有社が結んだ保険契約が、放置長期化の最大の原因となった。鹿児島県のサルベージ会社の代理人として所有社と保険会社の交渉に関わった窪田健夫弁護士（東京弁護士会）が説明する。

　所有社は船の座礁など事故に備え、ロシアの保険会社と船主責任保険（ＰＩ保険）を結んだ。昨年１０月２２日、横浜市の銀行からロシアの銀行口座に保険金送金の手続きをしたが、２２日は金曜日で、ロシア側の口座に入金されたのは２５日だった。

　事故はその間の２４日に起きた。保険会社は「入金完了後に契約は効力を発揮する」という契約書のただし書きを理由に、保険金支払いを拒んだ。両者の交渉は今月中旬、事実上打ち切られたという。

　窪田弁護士は「所有社が撤去費用を負担するしかない。１億～２億円かかるだろうが、所有社にそれだけの資金力があるかどうかは不明」と言う。

　■補償金を要求

　船体は現在、スパットと呼ばれる高さ３０メートルの支柱だけが海上に出ている。現場はイセエビの好漁場だが、スパット倒壊や海底の残がいで網が破損する恐れがあり、半径２００メートルは漁ができない。

　イセエビの漁期は９月～翌４月。市漁協によると、昨年度の水揚げは約２３トン（前年度比約４トン減）で、例年より約２割減り、青島、内海の両漁協が合併して市漁協ができた０２年度以降で最低の水揚げ高だった。今年は漁期が丸々含まれるため、市漁協の細元睦生参事は「撤去されなければさらに水揚げが減るのではないか」と危機感を募らせる。

　市漁協はこれまで、船の早期撤去とイセエビ漁への補償金支払いを文書で所有社に要望してきたが、回答はない。このまま長期化すれば中国の裁判所に所有社を提訴することも検討しているという。

　■行政の対応

　宮崎市一ツ葉沖では０３年４月、ホンジュラス船籍のタグボートが座礁した。現場は座礁の危険性が高く、アカウミガメの上陸地でもあり、海岸法の定める海岸保全区域だった。船主と連絡も取れず、県が約１億８０００万円の撤去費用を肩代わりし行政代執行した。

　今回は海岸保全区域でなく、県は撤去を要望することしかできないという。県危機管理局の佐々木史郎主幹は「もどかしいが、所有社への働きかけを続けるしかない」と話す。

Ship towed to Mt Maunganui after hitting rocks 10/28/11 (TVNZ)
A container ship which hit rocks at the Tauranga harbour entrance this morning was towed into the port this afternoon.

Port of Tauranga says the 133 metre vessel MV Schelde Trader lost power and went aground just north of North Rock around the base of Mount Maunganui at 10.35am, while leaving the harbour under escort of a tug.

No oil has leaked from the vessel, said Graeme Marshall, the port company's commercial manager.

The boat was refloated and safety anchored under the control of tugs outside the harbour entrance, he said.

The vessel was later towed into port by two Port of Tauranga tugs and was secured alongside the Mount Maunganui wharves at 3.45pm, Marshall said.

"We understand that the vessel owners have divers on standby to undertake underwater inspections of the hull and class surveyors will board the ship to undertake a survey of the vessel."

Bay of Plenty Regional Council said the vessel was on the rocks for about 20 minutes before being re-floated and taken by tugs outside the harbour entrance.

The council said it believes the vessel incurred only minor damage.

Preliminary assessments indicate that a mechanical failure caused the loss of power, which then resulted in a loss of steering, said Eddie Grogan, the council's Group Manager for Water Management.

Grogan said he was pleased with the actions taken by the ship's crew and port staff in response to the problem.

"While mechanical failure on ships isn't a common problem, these things happen from time-to-time and our harbour masters are well-trained to deal with situations of this type."

Grogan stressed the incident is unrelated to the grounding of the Rena cargo ship on October 5, or the Maritime New Zealand response to that situation.

Tauranga iwi 'seething'

Tauranga Moana iwi say they are seething a second ship grounding has occurred in their ancestral waters within the space of a month.

"Today's grounding occurred near Tirikawa (North Rock) which is among the most highly regarded sites of cultural significance for all Tauranga Iwi and we are absolutely livid that it has occurred," said spokesman for the iwi Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi and Ngati Pukenga.

Tauranga iwi believe this latest incident is further evidence of why a moratorium should be immediately adopted and harbour development halted, they said in a statement.

"It stands to reason that if shipping and port authorities cannot manage their current workload in a manner that is consistent with best practice guidelines what makes them think they can manage higher volume and bigger ships entering our harbour?"

The iwi said they are now appealing to ministers to urgently revisit the Tauranga Harbour dredging proposal "because it is clear that local, regional and harbour authorities are either ill equipped or have been negligent in identifying risks associated with the plan".

"Our opposition to the proposal is and has always been around protection for our local environment so that the sea can be enjoyed by everyone.

"We cannot market our country as a clean green tourist destination while we pay scant regard to those values in practical way."

The iwi said: "This is now a key election issue for our people and we believe for the wider Tauranga public as well. The only thing keeping people off the beaches this summer will be oil and not iwi."

Today's grounding occurred with a vessel fully laden with fuel and that is not good enough. What is even more disturbing is that there was a harbour pilot on board when the incident occurred, the iwi said.

Rena's cargo and debris predicted to spread MICHAEL FORBES AND MICHELLE COOKE (stuff.co.nz)
Containers and debris from crippled cargo ship Rena could be sighted along the Wairarapa coast within weeks, an ocean modelling scientist says.

Two weeks after Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga, remnants of its cargo have been washing ashore hundreds of kilometres away on East Coast beaches.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) scientist Mark Hadfield predicted containers and their contents will soon be found even further adrift, so swift are currents in the area.

Niwa will on Tuesday drop four sensors in the water, in an effort to predict where currents may sweep Rena rubbish.

Hadfield said projections showed the east Auckland current pushing lost containers around the East Cape which could see them off the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa coastline in a matter of weeks.

"The currents in that area do move quite quickly," he said.

Of the 88 containers that have fallen overboard so far, 29 remain unaccounted for.

Another possibility was for debris to travel across the Pacific Ocean toward Chile, while a third could see containers off the Rena do a loop of the Pacific Ocean, eventually ending up back in New Zealand.

"That would take quite a while...we're talking at least a year," he said.

"Basically, when these containers hit the East Cape of New Zealand, they could go in hundreds of different directions."

Up to 10,000 containers are lost at sea each year, and some of those are used to plot ocean currents.

A container load of baby bath toys, including rubber duckies, lost in the mid-Pacific in 1992, travelled far and wide, with floating turtles and frogs still being found more than a decade later.

Some washed ashore thousands of kilometres away in the Atlantic Ocean, being found on the northeast coastline of the United States.

Containers floating low in the water can be a hazard, more so to lighter vessels such as yachts, rather than ships, which can brush them aside with the force of their bow waves.

Meanwhile a further three kilometres along Mt Maunganui beach has been opened to the public this afternoon.

The public were allowed to swim and take out their boats if they wished to do so, National on scene commander Alex van Wijngaarden said.

A total of 171 tonnes of oil had now being pumped off the Rena, and salvors have been able to pump consistently for 24 hours - the longest stretch of pumping since the Rena was grounded on October 5.

Rena: NZ 'racist right' condemned

A large Filipino seafarers organisation has condemned the stranded container ship Rena as being substandard but has also taken a swing at "racist and extreme right elements in New Zealand" who blamed its Filipino crew for the accident.

"[The disaster] shows the evils in substandard shipping and in the flag of convenience system used by unscrupulous ship-owners," the Manila-based International Seafarers Action center (ISAC) Philippines Foundation said.

Saying it was "an accident waiting to happen", the centre noted the enormous damage to the ecosystem.

"The trauma, fear and physical sufferings of the mostly Filipino crew on board, who were made to stay on board the tilting ship for six days without rescue, highlights the human and environmental damage that this incident has caused," the foundation said.

Rena highlighted a 50-year-old problem of sub-standard shipping and owners who tried to reduce cost to amass enormous profits, it said.

"(Rena) is an old and substandard vessel that was built in 1990."

In the last three years she failed half of her inspections and had been detained in Australia for 17 deficiencies, it said.

"It is not surprising then, that this vessel would figure, sooner or later, in an accident of this sort."

Many incidents with sub-standard vessels led to massive oil spills and the loss of human lives, the group said.

ISAC said it stood with the people of New Zealand in battling the effects of the oil spills.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) chose not to address them directly at this stage, a spokesman said.

"There are two thorough investigations being conducted that will examine the issues involved in the incident."

OIL PUMPING CONTINUES

A pump specialist was being brought in to advise on ways to speed up the pumping of oil off the Rena, MNZ said.

Salvors removed a further 60 tonnes of oil from the crippled ship overnight, and are continuing to pump today.

Pumping resumed around midday yesterday after being delayed for several days by weather.

MNZ salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson said the operation was making slow, but steady progress, with about 150 tonnes of oil pumped from the ship so far.

"The overnight crew will be replaced this morning and pumping will continue today," he said.

"The salvage crew also intends to do sounding tests on the tanks which will provide us with a more precise figure of how much oil remains."

Anderson said the wind was forecast to increase later today, but conditions were good this morning.

"We will continue to monitor the weather to ensure the salvage operation is safe. However, we will take advantage of the good weather while we can.

"The good news is the forecast is for fine weather for the rest of the weekend."

National on scene commander Alex van Wijngaarden said oil was continuing to wash up along the beach at Mount Maunganui and Papamoa.

Shoreline clean-up work would continue today, with teams focusing on both beaches. Crews would also be assisting iwi at Maketu and Waihau Bay.

"We're aware that some oil is mobilising on the surf line from the sand around Mount Maunganui and Papamoa. Because of this, we will keep the beaches closed in the interest of public safety," van Wijngaarden said.

The main Mount Maunganui Beach will remain open for public access, but not for swimming.

Van Wijngaarden said a lot of debris from containers was also washing up in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

"We have deployed a significant amount of equipment, along with shoreline clean-up specialists to lead volunteers there. As always, we ask members of the public to work with the response teams to ensure a methodical and safe clean-up."

Shoreline clean-up assessment teams have confirmed that earlier reports of oiling at Whakatane Spit and Ohope Beach were incorrect, he said.

CLEAN UP GEAR DELAY ANGERS

Meanwhile, the people of Waihau Bay, the beach on the East Cape made famous by the movie Boy were furious over a two-day wait for oil clean up gear.

Residents were quick to volunteer for the clean up when oil-covered deer skins, timber and milk powder from Rena washed ashore on Tuesday afternoon.

About 100 people put their hands up. But volunteer firefighter Joe Rua, who is co-ordinating the operation, said no equipment was sent to the small settlement the following day, despite repeated pleas to Maritime NZ for gloves and overalls.

MNZ on-scene commander Ian Niblock said there was a "miscommunication" with the people of Waihau Bay on Wednesday. "They thought it was going to be airlifted in by helicopter but we ended up sending it over with the army. It arrived last [Wednesday] night."

But Rua said the gear did not arrive until 8am yesterday - about 36 hours after it was requested.

Conservation Department staff dropped it off, he said. "We waited and waited but we never saw the army all day [on Wednesday].

"We eventually got sick of waiting and adopted the idea that these guys were never going to arrive, so we had better roll our sleeves up," he said. "We were bloody angry. The people around here are passionate about keeping the beach clean."

Boy director Taika Waititi also displayed his displeasure through a sarcastic remark on Twitter on Wednesday. "Great! Rena oil has reached Waihau Bay along with other junk from the ship. Nice rapid-response cleanup guys!"

Rua said MNZ had a responsibility to get the gear to where the problem was as quickly as possible, whether it was sent it to the wrong place or not. Between 25 and 35 kilometres of coastline in the area, including Whangaparaoa Bay and the Whangaparaoa River, had been contaminated to varying degrees.

Only 20 pairs of gloves were available at the fire station when people wanted to start cleaning up, he said. "We just had to fend for ourselves [on Wednesday] and round up whatever gear we could find, but it still wasn't enough to fully deploy everyone."

Rua said locals had support from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and two Maritime NZ shoreline cleanup experts yesterday.

Eight hundred bags of oily debris were collected from Maketu Spit yesterday, in what Niblock described as "a good day's work".

Rena disaster: Second officer charged, cracks in ship 10/12/11 （stuff.co.nz）
The second officer of the Rena is facing a charge under the Maritime Transport Act as the fears grow that the stricken ship will disintegrate.

The 47,000 tonne ship Rena, which struck the Astrolabe reef off Tauranga last Wednesday, has been leaking oil into the sea. Up to 70 containers have fallen from the deck, as heavy seas continued to thwart salvage efforts.

Thick slicks of oil drifting from the ship have washed ashore on Tauranga beaches and oil has been seen on beaches in harbour suburbs.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has confirmed the officer was facing a charge under Section 65 of the act, which covers dangerous activity involving ships or maritime products.

The officer, who was in charge of the navigational watch of the cargo ship, will appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow morning.

The ship's captain appeared in court earlier today, facing charges under the same section of the act.

The deterioration of the stricken cargo ship was now quite clear, and taxpayers may have to pay for part of the salvage and clean-up, Prime Minister John Key said.

Joyce said the biggest fear was it would sink where it was currently located.

"The worst case scenario is it sinks where it is because that water is quite deep and it will get quite a lot harder to get access to the oil and salvage it.''

Attempts would be made to avert that scenario.

"They've got tugs out on the water...if the ship starts to break up they're going to try and hold the stern on the reef because that will be an easier place to do the salvage of the oil from.

Maritime New Zealand had been preparing for the “worst case scenario” right from the start and expected to be there “for the long haul”, National on Scene Commander Nick Quinn said.

Thick slicks of oil drifting from the ship have washed ashore on Tauranga beaches and oil has been seen on beaches in harbour suburbs, but Quinn said the worst is yet to come.

Ad Feedback "Until now we have had a light oiling of beaches – this will significantly increase as more oil washes ashore over the coming days.”

It was expected that about 10,000 tonnes of sandy waste would need to be removed from the coastline, MNZ said tonight.

More than 150 dead birds were found today, bringing the total to 200, and that number was expected to rise in the coming days.

Forty birds and five seals were being cared for at the Wildlife Response Centre.

Taxpayers may have to cover costs if the Rena's insurance was unable to fully cover the disaster, Key said earlier.

Key defended the Government's reaction to the stranding and said: “I know everyone would love us to wave a magic wand but that's not possible."

He said there was a national plan for such disasters and that it had been put into action the moment the boat hit the reef.

"I understand people are frustrated. I'm frustrated too.

"Unfortunately we have to deal with the cards dealt to us."

The boom across the Maketu estuary appeared to be effective but Key said: "we may well see more oil in the estuary".

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Key said today that there was structural damage to the ship and MNZ confirmed there were cracks on both sides of the vessel.

An aerial flight showed a rupture on the port side of the ship was getting worse, salvage advisor Jon Walker said.

Salvage teams wanted to try to keep the Rena's stern on the reef, over fears it would sink in a break up. That would make the recovery of the oil difficult.

"We are hoping that it's still on the reef. If we can keep it on it we can deal with it," Walker said.

He added the gap in the starboard side of the vessel was opening and closing in the surf this morning.

"If there is a break up of the vessel, we are going to have oil coming out."

"Before we left the vessel we tried to blank all the tanks. ... We tried to retain the oil as much as we can in the vessel."

The salvors have three tugs mobilised to hold the stern on the reef while further effort was made to remove the oil.

The stern might have to be towed to shallow water where it would be easier to remove the oil.

Naval architects are working on possible scenarios and iwi were also involved advising on any cultural issues regarding moving or sinking the ship.

'HEARTBREAK' ON MOTITI ISLAND

Motiti Island residents were almost in tears watching oil wash up on the pristine beach.

A thick slick of oil today coated the shore of Motiti Island and containers from a stricken cargo ship were also washing up - with one reportedly trailing blue liquid behind it.

"It's devastating to watch," said Motiti Island resident Lynda Wikeepa.

"Everyone is out on the point to see the oil just washing up on the rocks, they're almost in tears."

Wikeepa said from the point on the northern part of Motiti Island, which is about 7km from the reef, she could see about 15 containers floating in the ocean.

One had sunk, with its door open, but was empty, she said.

"Another one has blue stuff coming out of it, it's formed a big trail of blue behind it,"

"It's very bright, much bluer than the colour of the sea."

Residents had called MNZ to get the leak checked out.

There was also a "huge" oil slick on the beach, Wikeepa said.

"It's heartbreaking."

None of the lost containers held hazardous cargo, and the majority of them were empty, MNZ head Catherine Taylor said earlier today.

Six vessels were intercepting the containers and drifting debris in the water, MNZ said.

The containers on board this ship continue to move in the rough sea conditions, making it difficult for salvage crews to work.

Residents were growing increasingly concerned for the wildlife and seafood near the island.

Hundreds of dead birds have been found and more than 40 birds and five seals are being looked after at the Wildlife Response Centre.

Response teams are also setting traps to capture seals to check them for oil.

About 36 field teams were working on the wildlife response.

MNZ was also warning the public of scam callers after the Wildlife team received reports that people were receiving phone calls asking for donations.

INSURANCE COVER

The stricken ship is covered for up to $5 billion in insurance claims - with up to a fifth of that set aside for pollution liability.

Owners of the Rena, Costamare Inc, are part of the world's biggest group of ship insurers and have organised substantial legal cover for the ship's captain and crew.

But if the company’s insurance was not enough to cover the environmental disaster New Zealand tax payers might have to foot part of the bill, Key said today.

Costamare arranged legal cover through its insurer P & I Services' New Zealand representative Alastair Irving, including for the lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, counsel for the ship's captain.

Irving said the crew were being "well-supported" by the owner, who was extremely concerned for their welfare.

He stressed the ship had "substantial" insurance, including both hull and machinery and liability insurance.

CHARGES LAID

Two crew members have been charged with operating a vessel “in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk”.

The ship’s master and the second officer, who was in charge of the navigational watch, have both been charged.

The master appeared Tauranga District Court today and the second officer would appear at 10am tomorrow.

The captain was granted name suppression and released on bail when he appeared in court.

The charge the captain and second officer face - under Section 65 of the Maritime Act, covering dangerous activity involving ships or maritime products - carried a penalty of up to a year imprisonment or a fine up to $10,000.

More charges may follow.

The captain appeared in an orange jumpsuit which appeared to be stained with oil. He was composed and kept his head high during the hearing.

Mabey asked for name suppression, saying the man could face further charges and he had concerns that given the

Rena disaster people "might want to take matters into their own hands".

Judge Robert Wolff granted the man interim name suppression to keep the integrity of the court process, and for the accused's safety. He was ordered to reappear on October 19.

He would have to reside at a nominated address approved by the prosecutors and make daily reports to a local police station, subject to him working on the salvage operation.

His passport was with the Customs department, Mabey said.

The captain could also not apply for travel documents.

MORE CHARGES POSSIBLE

The captain of the Rena had held his position on the ship only since March, and it was just the second time he made the trip Rena was on when it ran aground, according to the ship's owner.

A spokesman for Costamare Inc was unaware of the arrest or of the loss of containers when called this morning.

However, company information showed the man joined it in January 2007 as a chief officer, spending the last two-and-a-half years as a ship master.

He had commanded four of the company's ships, and took command of Rena in March, his second stint on that ship.

"His record with the company has always been clean," documents read. "His performance has been appraised with high scores and he has been incident free."

Joyce said more charges would follow those laid overnight.

Officials were working on charges as the incident occurred within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea limit, Environment Minister Nick Smith said.

The captain may also face charges under Section 237 of the Act involving the discharge or escape of harmful substances into the sea, which carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment and fine of up to $200,000.

Charges under the Resource Management Act were also possible, Joyce told Newstalk ZB.

"I think you can safely assume that whatever is appropriate to be done in respect of the culpability of anybody, will be dealt with."

Joyce said he did not know if that would go further than the captain.

The crew had been interviewed and while the chain of command began with the captain there were "one or two" people of interest.

"The crew's job on a ship like this is to follow the instructions of the ship's leadership," Joyce said.

"It is inexplicable that on a perfectly calm day, with all the modern technology that are available in terms of navigation, that a very well-documented reef would be hit in this way," Smith said.

Police declined to comment on the arrest, saying responsibility lay with MNZ.

HEALTH WARNINGS

Locals were removing oil from beaches throughout the Bay of Plenty today, despite official warnings that the oil was highly toxic and could be fatal if ingested.

A strong smell has been noticed in some areas and while the smell should diminish within a couple of hours, it could also become stronger, MNZ said tonight.

MNZ warned that some people may experience “some physical discomfort”. It suggested people shut their windows and avoid beaches “and all immediate or secondary contact with the oil spillage.”

It suggested that anyone experiencing discomfort should move to an area with fresh air.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

While there was no sign of new oil leakage today, fuel oil was last night gushing from the boat, with up to 350 tonnes so far leaking into the ocean.

MNZ said "significantly more oil" would wash ashore in Papamoa today. By 11am reports were coming in of sheets of oil, two to three metres wide, covering Papamoa beach. It was described as being thick and pungent.

Oil from the ship was spreading faster than expected, leaving dead animals in its wake and prompting Smith to label the crisis as the country's "worst maritime environmental disaster".

It could be up to two days before operations to salvage the remaining oil in the Rena resume, Smith said.

Smith said the stormy conditions would help to break up the oil that had already leaked into the sea, but it was also hampering attempts to salvage the remaining 1300-1400 tonnes.

Since the crew was evacuated from the ship yesterday it had not been possible to measure the amount of oil remaining in the ship's tanks.

A reconnaissance flight had landed after assessing the ship.

The salvage crew had to wait for the weather to clear before heading back out to the reef. Once there they would need to set up and begin heating the oil so it could be pumped out.

Under normal conditions it would take two days to pump out that quantity of oil.

"The greatest environmental risk is from the heavy oil that has been released from the vessel... (oil salvage) is the critical element of the current operation."

The exclusion zone, which extended 1.5 nautical miles around the ship had now been extended to Motiti Island. The new area runs from Mount Manganui to Matata and extends out beyond Motiti to Astrolabe Reef.

Residents on the island were due to meet with authorities today in a bid to be more involved in the clean up.

"We're wanting some protective gear so we can help. At the moment it's like they're trying to bypass us," Nuku said.

Protective gear had been distributed to local iwi.

BEACH CLEANING EFFORT

MNZ was calling on people to volunteer to help clean up the beach tomorrow.

Beach liaison volunteers would be on beaches tomorrow morning to advise potential volunteers and the public what the plan is.

People who are interested in volunteering should call 0800 645 774 or email iccrena@gmail.com

Clean-up teams were this morning braving strong winds, heavy rain and pounding waves to collect oil from Papamoa Beach and Maketu.

An MNZ spokesman said ten teams of 3-4 people started collecting the large clumps of oil from 8.30am.

Up to 20 teams were expected on the beach later today, with low tide about 2.30pm.

An Army clean-up team hit the beach from 10am.

Clumps of oil about 4cm thick and up to 50cm long litter the beaches of Mt Maunganui and Papamoa this morning.

The spokesman said there was less oil than expected due to the horrendous weather conditions which had "broken the stuff up".

Motiti Island resident Vernon Wills said the first globs of oil hit the island yesterday.

"They were about golf ball size. We're expecting much worse today," he said.

Wills, a resident of the island for 30 years said there was a northerly of about 25-30 knots and the storm was as bad as he has seen.

"This couldn't have happened at a worse time. This is an equinoxial wind. We thought we'd seen the last of these this year," he said.

"This is going to get bad for us," he said.

He said a team of Department of Conservation workers staying on the island had collected eight injured or dead blue penguins to date and expected to collect many more birds today.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Eleven of the containers on board the ship contained hazardous materials, MNZ revealed last night, however officials dismissed rumours that yellowcake uranium was among them.

Four of the containers had ferrosilicon, which is flammable if it comes into contact with water. It was used in the cosmetic industry and had a low hazard classification.

Four had hydrogen peroxide. This was labelled as harmless at low concentration and was produced naturally from organisms. It had a low risk assessment while in the container.

One had potassium nitrate, a common garden fertilizer. It can produce a flammable gas as it degrades, but that was seen as highly unlikely if not impossible in the current environment. The primary risk assessment was low.

One had alkylsulphonic liquid. It was not believed to pose a significant risk to health and is not seen as hazardous in this case. It had a high rate of breakdown.

One has trichloroisocyanuric acid, which was used as industrial disinfectant. It had a white chlorine-smelling powder. Primary risk assessment was low.

It was not known what was in the lost containers.

Navigation warnings were in place, with ships in the area re-routed to avert the hazard, MNZ said.

MNZ said at this stage, all it could do was monitor the situation.

Ideally, authorities would have been able to winch people down to the ship to inspect the damage and see which containers were lost, but the wind made using the winch impossible.

It was likely the containers would wash up on the beach and the public were asked to report them, but not touch them.

The remaining 1357 containers had food, general cargo, refrigerated goods, and one Mustang car.

COMPENSATION SOUGHT

Fishermen Roger Rawlinson, from RMD Marine, said the oil spill couldn't have come at a worst time as they were fishing for snapper about 3km from the coast.

He said it had not affected them yet, but they were preparing for the worst.

"We are fishing close to shore catching snapper and trevally, so if heavy oil moves in we can't work because we can't shoot the net through the oil, and we can't pick it up through the oil," he said.

The spill could cost him thousands of dollars with the fishing boat bringing in about $40,000 a day.

"I've got men outside ready to go to sea, if they can't go to sea how are they going to get paid?"

Rawlinson was asking for compensation for any lost business, and echoed many Bay of Plenty residents by saying something should have been done sooner to prevent the oil from reaching the coast.

Fresh oil spills in N.Z's worst sea pollution disaster by Erica Berenstein 10/11/11 （Physorg.com）
Maritime New Zealand photo released by the New Zealand Defence Force shows the Monrovia-flagged "Rena" container ship (L), aground on the Astrolabe Reef near New Zealand's Tauranga harbour. The container ship issued a mayday on Tuesday after sustaining damage in heavy seas and spilling "significant" new amounts of oil, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said.

New Zealand on Tuesday declared its worst maritime pollution disaster, as oil gushed into a pristine bay from a stranded container ship which was being pounded in heavy seas.

Oil Spill Clean-up - Products to clean up any size spill Solutions for a cleaner World - www.cepsorbents.com

The crippled container vessel Rena, which hit a reef off the North Island coast last Wednesday, leaked up to 350 tonnes of heavy fuel after being further damaged in the storm, dwarfing an initial spill, maritime authorities said.

"I'd like to acknowledge this event has come to a stage where it is New Zealand's most significant maritime environmental disaster," Environment Minister Nick Smith told reporters at Tauranga.

Smith said there was little authorities could have done to prevent the disaster in the environmentally sensitive Bay of Plenty, where beaches have already been fouled with oil and some wildlife found dead or contaminated.

"It is my view that the tragic events we are seeing unfolding were absolutely inevitable from the point that the Rena ran onto the reef in the early hours of Wednesday morning," he said.

The latest spill was much larger than an initial leak of 20 tonnes after the Liberian-flagged vessel ploughed into the reef, 22 kilometres (13.6 miles) offshore.

Earlier Tuesday, the stricken ship issued a mayday and nearby boats, including six navy vessels, scrambled to evacuate a salvage crew when the Rena shifted position on the reef it had hit after being pounded by huge waves.

One sailor received minor injuries when a Rena salvage crew member fell on him while transferring to a navy vessel.

Maritime New Zealand said one of the Rena's four fuel tanks had ruptured but was unable to say whether it was in the stern, where most of the oil is stored, or the largely empty tanks in the front, which has sustained the most damage.

Graphic on the situation in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, where a worsening oil spill from a stranded container ship has become the country's most significant maritime pollution disaster.

Officials have warned that New Zealand faces a major disaster if the Rena breaks up on the reef, releasing all 1,700 tonnes of fuel oil that are on board.

MNZ director Catherine Taylor said the vessel appeared stable but "the weather forecast is not good" and that further shoreline pollution was inevitable.

The ship sustained further damage to the front of its hull in the rough seas and additional flooding in its forward holds, MNZ said, but added this might help to stabilise the ship, preventing it moving around on the reef.

Oil Spills from Container Ship Grounded on New Zealand Reef 10/06/11 （Environment News Service (ENS)）

TAURANGA, New Zealand, October 6, 2011 (ENS) - A slick of heavy fuel oil five kilometers (three miles) long extends northward from the damaged container ship Rena, which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef about 2:20 am on Wednesday.

Fuel is leaking from the Liberian-flagged vessel, which is stranded on Astrolabe Reef about 11.5 nautical miles from the Tauranga coast at the north end of New Zealand's North Island.

The 32-year-old, 236-metre, 47,000 tonne vessel was heading towards the Port of Tauranga from Napier, carrying about 1,700 metric tonnes of fuel. Two of its cargo holds are flooded and several breaches have been identified in the hull, according to Maritime New Zealand, which is handling the incident.

There are no reported injuries to the 25 crew, who will remain on board for the time being.

"We have been advised that the vessel is carrying four containers of ferrosilicon. This substance, which is a solid matter, has the potential to cause risk if it comes into contact with water. It can give off hydrogen which can cause a fire risk," warned Maritime New Zealand.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce warns there is a risk the damaged ship could break up. A spokeswoman for the minister told NZ Newswire the situation is "probably going to get worse."

Regional Harbour Master Carl Magazinovic has directed all unauthorized vessels to stay at least one kilometer (0.62 miles) clear of the Astrolabe Reef and the grounded ship until further notice.

Magazinovic said "sightseeing vessels" have attempted to approach the grounded ship, potentially causing safety issues and disrupting response efforts.

"This situation is expected to continue for some time so we will be monitoring movement of vessels around the area, and anyone found breaching the exclusion zone could face a fine of up to $20,000," he said.

An Incident Command Centre has been established at Mount Maunganui.

National On Scene Commander Rob Service said an observation flight this afternoon identified a significant oil slick. It is still unknown how much oil had spilt from the vessel.

The spill response escalated this afternoon, following confirmation that dispersant applied to the oil slick is proving to be ineffective.

Service said despite initial indications that dispersant testing had proved effective, further analysis had confirmed the Corexit 9500 was not dispersing the oil. Other dispersant options are being considered.

The response team is preparing for an on-water recovery operation, which would scoop oil off the water by teams on vessels using specialized equipment.

"Extra equipment and people will be arriving overnight and tomorrow to run a recovery operation. We must also prepare for a potential shoreline cleanup," said Service.

Reports of oil heading towards a marine reserve surrounding Tuhua (Mayor) Island were incorrect, said Service. An observation flight this afternoon confirmed no oil in the vicinity of the island.

Maritime New Zealand says the vessel's fuel tanks are still intact with the majority of the 1,700 cubic metres of fuel oil on board held within them. The heavy fuel oil leaking from the vessel appears to be from pipes.

As a precautionary measure, fuel in tanks on the port side has been transferred to the starboard side. Pumps are in operation to remove water from the cargo holds.

The ship's captain is in discussion with the ship's owner and salvage experts to assess how best to move the ship off the reef - this is expected to take some time.

Svitzer has been appointed as the salvor and salvors are on board the vessel examining how best to resolve the situation. "Their priority at this stage is to remove the fuel from the vessel to prevent it causing further damage," Service said.

"We are aware this situation is causing concern, particularly for Bay of Plenty residents," he said. "The situation is being managed in accordance with the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and international best practice."

"Our professional and expert Maritime New Zealand team is being further supported by international advisors with extensive experience in oil spill response," he said.

"We will have shoreline assessment teams on Papamoa Beach tomorrow, doing pre-clean surveys, which means identifying vulnerable areas and assessing cleanup options," said Service. "There will also be wildlife teams on the shores of Motiti Island and Maketu Peninsula, identifying any affected wildlife."

There are petrels, little blue penguins and a seal colony in the area. An oiled wildlife response is being mobilized in Tauranga following reports of four dead birds found in the water near the grounded vessel.

Oiled Wildlife Response Coordinator Kerri Morgan, from Massey University, said the team has now activated its response plans. An oiled wildlife response center will be set up at the Tauranga Wastewater treatment plant. A further base will be set up on Motiti Island.

Morgan said around 20 responders, including veterinarians, are expected to be settled on the island tonight, ready to respond at first light tomorrow.

The cause of the grounding is under investigation by Maritime New Zealand. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission will be conducting a separate investigation.

Oil spill as container ship hits New Zealand reef 10/05/11 （The Straits Times）
WELLINGTON (AFP) - A large container ship ran aground on a reef off New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday, releasing a 'light sheen of oil' but not posing a major environmental hazard, the country's maritime authority said.

The 47,000 tonne container vessel 'Rena' hit a reef about 12 nautical miles (22km) off the coast of Tauranga early in the morning, Maritime New Zealand said.

It said none of the 25-man crew of the Liberian-flagged ship was injured.

The agency said monitoring flights over the stricken vessel early on Wednesday found some light engine oil had leaked into the sea but tanks carrying 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil had not ruptured.

油流出容疑でインドネシア人船員を摘発/川崎 09/28/11 (カナコロ)

　川崎海上保安署は28日、海洋汚染等防止法違反（油の排出）の疑いで、韓国籍ケミカルタンカー「ファイン　ケミ」（１３０７トン）のインドネシア国籍の乗組員（58）を摘発した。

　摘発容疑は、24日午後４時45分ごろ、川崎市川崎区千鳥町の化学工場の専用桟橋に着けていたケミカルタンカーから、誤って油性混合物（ビルジ）を流出させた、としている。

　同保安署によると、当時は積み荷を降ろす作業中だった。バラストタンクに海水を送るよう指示された同機関士が、バルブ操作を誤り、船底にあるビルジだまりの弁を開放したという。

　同保安署によると、流出した油はわずかで、化学工場側でオイルフェンスや吸着マットを設置。周囲への拡散はなかったという。

　同機関士は、同法違反の外国船舶に適用される早期釈放制度で、担保金50万円を支払い釈放された。

　タンカーは19日に韓国・釜山を出港。エタノールを運んでいたという。

離床断念、解体へ　堀切峠沖座礁船 09/27/11 （宮崎日日新聞）

　昨年10月から宮崎市折生迫の堀切峠付近にしゅんせつ船が座礁している問題で、船主の中国企業が船の移動を断念し、解体する方針を決めたことが分かった。

　宮崎海上保安部によると、船主は「船を持ち帰るメリットがなくなった」と説明しているという。

　一方、長引く撤去作業に宮崎市漁協(矢部広一組合長)の伊勢エビ漁は昨年に続き、今年も影響が避けられそうにない。

フェリー転覆、１６３人死亡…タンザニア沖 09/11/11 （産経新聞）

　【ヨハネスブルク＝中西賢司】アフリカ東部タンザニアの沖合で１０日未明、フェリーが転覆し、ＡＦＰ通信によると少なくとも１６３人が死亡した。

　船には６００人が乗船していたとみられ、死者数はさらに増える恐れがある。

　フェリーは、インド洋のザンジバル島からペンバ島に向かっていた。事故原因は不明だが、船はイスラム教のラマダン（断食月）明けの休日を過ごして帰宅する家族連れなどで混雑していたといい、定員オーバーだった可能性もある。在タンザニア日本大使館によると、邦人が乗船した記録はない。

居眠りか、コンテナ船が岸壁に衝突　明石海峡大橋の公園 08/19/11 （産経新聞）

　１９日午前４時４０分ごろ、神戸市垂水区東舞子町の兵庫県立舞子公園の岸壁に、オランダ船籍のコンテナ船（９９８３トン、１５人乗り組み）が衝突し、コンクリート製の岸壁が約２メートルにわたって崩れ落ちた。船は船首付近が損傷したが、燃料油などの流出はなく、乗組員や公園の釣り客らにけがはなかった。

　神戸海上保安部によると、船は全長約１４０メートルで、中国・蓮雲港から大阪港へ向かう途中だった。操船していたウクライナ人の２等航海士（２６）が「現場付近の記憶がない」と話しているといい、同保安部は居眠りをした可能性があるとみて事故原因を調べている。

　現場は明石海峡大橋の真下の臨海公園。

神戸・明石海峡大橋下で貨物船が護岸に衝突 08/19/11 （読売新聞）

　１９日午前４時４０分頃、神戸市垂水区東舞子町、明石海峡大橋の真下にある兵庫県立舞子公園の護岸に、オランダ船籍の貨物船（約１万トン、１５人乗り組み）が船首から衝突し、航行できなくなった。

　護岸は幅約２メートルにわたり壊れた。けが人はなかった。

　神戸海上保安部によると、貨物船は１６日に中国を出港し、大阪港へ向かう途中だったという。

座礁船が「沈没」？／台風６号の影響 07/20/11 （朝日新聞）

　　　台風６号は１９日昼過ぎに県内に最接近した。県内が暴風域に入ることはなかったが、強い風雨の影響で交通網は終日大きく乱れ、宮崎市の観光名所「鬼の洗濯板」近くの座礁船は、２本の支柱を残して海上からは見えなくなった。

　　宮崎地方気象台によると、宮崎空港で１８日午後４時５５分に最大瞬間風速３１・４メートルを観測。１７日午後４時の降り始めから１９日午前１１時までの降雨量は日南市・深瀬で２８７ミリに達した。

　　都城市は１９日午前７時、新燃岳周辺の４６０世帯９００人に出していた避難勧告を、１３時間ぶりに解除した。最大２９世帯４２人が避難所に身を寄せたという。

　　宮崎空港の発着便は始発から欠航。日本航空、全日空、スカイネットアジア航空の計３８便が欠航した。

　　ＪＲも、日南線と宮崎空港線の全線、日豊線の佐伯（大分県）―国分（鹿児島県）駅間で、始発から運転を見合わせた。日南線の運転再開は１９日夕になった。

　　県によると、西都市と新富町で、倒木が民家に倒れかかり、屋根が破損する被害が発生。新富町ではこの倒木でワゴン車など２台も下敷きになるなどした。

　　「鬼の洗濯板」付近に昨年１０月から座礁しているポンプ浚渫（しゅん・せつ）船は、１９日には２本の支柱を残して見えなくなった。同船の撤去を手がける鹿児島県のサルベージ会社は「強い波と風で沈んだのかもしれない。船体が傷ついていれば撤去の計画にも影響がある」としている。

百島漂着の牛の死骸、外国船が投棄 07/18/11 （エフエム尾道ＷＥＢ）

17日、百島で漂着しているのが見つかった牛の死骸は、外国船舶が投棄したことが分かりました。

牛の死骸を投棄したのは、パナマ国籍の船舶ジーエル・ラン・シュウ、6296トンです。 この船は生きた牛2010頭を積み込み、オーストリア、ブリスベンを出港。関門港で荷揚げをしたあと、福山市の造船所に向かう途中、体調不良となり商品として荷揚げができなかった1頭を船内で殺処分し、解体してドラム缶に詰め投棄したということです。 新聞で死骸が漂着したことを知り、海上保安部に申し出たため分かりました。現在、海洋汚染等および海上災害の防止に関する法律違反被疑事件として捜査が行われています。

適用条文　海洋汚染等及び海上災害の防止に関する法律　第十条　（何人も、海域において、船舶から廃棄物を排出してはならない。） 罰則　第五十五条第一項第三項　千万円以下の罰金

不法投棄か、海岸に牛の足など漂着…放射線なし 07/17/11 （読売新聞）

　１７日午前１１時３５分頃、広島県尾道市百島町の海岸で、切断された牛の足や内臓など約１００キロが打ち上げられているのを、同市内の男性（５０）が見つけた。

　尾道海上保安部の要請で、尾道市消防局が放射線測定器で検査したところ、放射性物質は検出されなかった。同保安部は不法投棄とみて調べている。

　発表によると、見つかったのは約１頭分で、腐敗は進んでおらず、頭部や胴部はなかった。近くに蓋のない空のドラム缶が漂着しており、足や内臓はこの中に入っていたとみられる。現場は瀬戸内海に浮かぶ百島の南岸。

呉でも汚染疑い肉を販売 07/19/11 （中国新聞）

　呉市保健所は18日、福島県浅川町から出荷され、暫定基準値を超える放射性セシウムが検出された牛１頭分の肉のうち約65キロが、市内の２業者で販売されていたと発表した。肉は今月14日が賞味期限で、同保健所はすでに消費されたとみている。

　同保健所によると、この牛は５月25日に東京都内で解体され、都内と大阪市、広島市の業者を経て呉市内の２業者がもも部分の生肉計99・６キロを買い付けた。広島市の業者は２業者以外には販売していないという。

　２業者のうち１社は６月14日に49・７キロを買い付け、不要部分を削り取るトリミング後、約20キロを約30人の個人客に、約10キロを市内の飲食店３店に販売した。もう１社は20日に49・９キロを購入し、トリミング後の約35キロを約70人の個人客に売った。いずれも「国産牛」として販売し、６月末までに完売した。

　同じ牛の肉は、東京都の７月14日の検査で暫定基準値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を超える６１０ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出した。

　業者名について同保健所は「業者に過失はなく、肉もすでに消費されている可能性が高いので回収できない」として公表しない方針という。

漁船と貨物船衝突 ２人死傷 07/06/11 （NHKニュース）

６日朝、横浜市の大黒ふ頭沖で、漁船と貨物船が衝突して漁船が転覆し、乗っていた親子２人のうち１人が死亡、１人がけがをしました。横浜海上保安部は乗組員から事情を聞くなどして、事故の詳しい状況を調べています。

６日午前６時すぎ、横浜市の大黒ふ頭沖で、横浜市漁協柴支所に所属する底引き網漁船「平新丸」と、ベトナム船籍の貨物船「アクアマリン」（４０９５トン）が衝突し、漁船が転覆しました。この事故で、漁船に乗っていた親子２人のうち、横浜市金沢区の平野新太郎さん（７９）が船内から発見され、まもなく死亡が確認されました。息子の佳邦さん（４９）は自力で船の上に上がったところを救助され軽傷だということで、貨物船の乗組員２２人にけがはありませんでした。海上保安部によりますと、貨物船はＪＦＥスチールの関連会社がチャーターした船で、鋼材を積んで６日午前５時４５分に川崎市の扇島を出てフィリピンに向かう途中だったということです。また、漁船は６日午前５時ごろに漁に向かうため出港したということで、海上保安部は双方の乗組員から事情を聞くなどして事故の詳しい状況を調べています。

中国の貨物船、韓国の近海で座礁　見舞いのため大使館が領事担当官派遣 07/04/11 （中国通信社）

（中国通信=東京）ソウル４日発新華社電によると、３日韓国の近海で座礁した中国の貨物船に乗っていた船員は、韓国海洋警察によって、港に近いホテルに無事搬送されており、船員の健康状態は良好だという。船員を見舞うため、中国の張キン（金の下に金二つ）森韓国駐在大使は４日、２人の領事担当官をホテルに派遣した。何頴・韓国駐在大使館総領事が同日、明らかにした。

　中国の貨物船（１５２８トン）は３日午前、インチョン市の近海で座礁したもので、中国の韓国駐在大使館は直ちに緊急対応マニュアルを発動するとともに、船員の救出に全力であたるよう韓国の海洋警察に要請した。その後、中国大使館は座礁した貨物船の船長と連絡をとり、貨物船に乗っていた船員１７人が全員救出されたことを確認した。

　韓国の海洋警察庁が３日提供したビデオテープによると、座礁によって、中国の貨物船に穴が開き、海水が流入、船尾が海中に水没し、船体は右側に約３５度傾いていた。

海難事故：パナマ籍貨物船、鳴門海峡で座礁　／徳島 07/04/11 （毎日新聞）

　３日午前１１時２０分ごろ、鳴門市の大鳴門橋で作業していた男性から「近くで船が浅瀬に乗り揚げているようだ」と第５管区海上保安本部に通報があった。徳島海上保安部が調べたところ、同橋南東の鳴門海峡でパナマ船籍の貨物船「ＪＩＡ　ＹＡＮＧ」（１４２７トン）が座礁していた。船長（３９）ら中国人乗組員１５人にけがはなく、船体前部のタンクなどに一部浸水があったが、油の流出はなかった。

　徳島海保によると、船は金属スクラップ１９５０トンを積み、１日夕に千葉県船橋市を出発し、韓国へ向かう途中だった。【大原一城】

タンカーで硫化水素発生か＝船員２人死亡、２人入院－名古屋港 06/28/11 （時事通信）

　２８日午前１１時半ごろ、名古屋港を航行中のケミカルタンカー「日祥丸」（乗員５人、４９９トン）の西川民夫船長（６０）から「甲板で乗員３人が倒れている」と名古屋海上保安部に通報があった。海保が巡視艇などを出して３人を救助したが、うち２人が搬送先の病院で死亡した。硫化水素とみられる有毒ガスを吸い込んだ可能性があり、海保が詳しい原因を調べている。

　死亡したのは１等航海士の大段昌信さん（６４）＝広島県呉市音戸町早瀬＝と１等機関士の前田清政さん（６２）＝同＝。次席１等航海士の土井光成さん（４２）＝呉市広白岳＝も病院に運ばれたが意識はあるという。その後、機関長の尾崎武男さん（６２）＝山口県萩市江崎＝も体調不良を訴え、入院した。

　海保によると、日祥丸は松田汽船（大阪市）が運航。四日市港（三重県四日市市）で積み込んだ硫化水素ナトリウム２５０トンを名古屋港で降ろした後、タンクを清掃中に有毒ガスが発生したとみられる。

　運輸安全委員会は２８日、船舶事故調査官３人を名古屋港に派遣した。

タンカー事故：乗組員２人死亡　硫化水素ガスで　名古屋港 06/28/11 （毎日新聞）

　２８日午前１１時３５分ごろ、愛知県知多市沖約２キロの名古屋港を航行中のケミカルタンカー「日祥丸」（４９９トン）の船長（６０）から「乗組員３人が甲板で倒れた」と１１８番通報があった。名古屋海上保安部によると、３人は硫化水素ガスを吸って倒れ、うち２人が死亡した。国土交通省運輸安全委員会は同日、調査官３人を現地に派遣。同保安部も２９日に実況見分を行い、タンカーの安全管理に問題がなかったか調べる。

　同保安部によると、死亡したのはいずれも広島県呉市に住む大段昌信さん（６４）と前田清政さん（６２）。別の男性乗組員（４２）も重症だが、意識はあるという。タンカーには男性５人が乗っていた。３人は清掃中、何らかの原因でタンクから漏れたガスを吸い込んだとみられる。【沢田勇】

Container ship Deneb capsized at Mersk terminal 06/13/11（SeaNews Turkey）
Two crewmembers including the captain were slightly injured when the "Deneb" on June 11, 2011, suddenly heeled to starboard in Algerias

Deneb capsized (Photo Courtesy of fotodesbarcos.org)

101 meters long Germany based company owned container ship capsized in Algeriask, at Maersk container terminal, 2 injured including captain.

Two crewmembers including the captain were slightly injured when the "Deneb" on June 11, 2011, suddenly heeled to starboard in Algerias.

At 3:30 loading operations were stopped by MAL and SG Portainer because of stability problems.

Short time later the ship began to list toward the quay at 1.55 p.m. none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; ">When the ship began to list the dock quickly escaped by jumping overboard and fall into the water without damage, there were 2 non-serious injuries among the crew, it seems that a sailor was hurt in the arm and the captain struck in the mouth, fortunately no serious injuries manifested.

Began to list at 13.55 before the helpless eyes of the stevedores who watched the scene as it was when it occurred is the shift and in the area were the 2 turns, the incoming and outgoing.

Oil booms were laid out around the vessel, and 2 tugs were pushing from the seaward port side prevent further increase of list. The ship sank to the bottom with its foreship meanwhile, and the list further increased. The salvage tug "Rotterdam" arrived from Rotterdam. The "Deneb" had on board 116 tons of diesel fuel and 26 tons bunker fuel. Cargo operator Maersk announces there was no dangerous cargo on board.

Coast Guard to hold M/V Double Prosperity 06/10/11 （Safety4Sea）
Sanctions should ne imposed to the vessel

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has a duty to hold MV Double Prosperity, the foreign bulk carrier that has been stuck at Bacud Reef in Kiamba since May 8, until an acceptable settlement is paid or reached, Sarangani's provincial legal officer said today.

Atty. Arnel Zapatos has submitted the "Complaint in Intervention" of Governor Miguel Dominguez, vice chairperson of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape-Protected Area Management Board (SBPS-PAMB), to the Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) which heard the case in Davao City on June 6-7.

The Board of Marine Inquiry is the investigating body of the PCG.

"SBMI should impose sanctions to the vessel and to continue to hold custody of the vessel withholding certifications of her seaworthiness pending the non-settlement of SBPS-PAMB's claim for the damaged reef," said the governor as complainant-intervenor.

Zapatos disclosed that during the SBMI inquiry, the crew of MV Double Prosperity admitted that the captain permitted the ship to go near the shore despite knowledge that Bacud Reef exists in their navigational map, in order to get cell phone signals.

"The Third Mate admitted that he was the one maneuvering the ship when it went aground and he miscalculated her turn, causing (MV Double Prosperity) to hit the reef. They were running at 13 knots when it hit the reef in a complete stop. He was aware that they were allowed to go nearer the shore at five miles," Zapatos said.

"The watchman admitted that he saw fishermen, and fishes indicating that they were near the shore and near the reef because there were fish sightings."

With all the admissions, the PAMB of Sarangani submitted its "Complaint in Intervention" on the grounds of negligence, damage to the reef in a protected area, and anchored on the PCG's duty to hold the ship until an acceptable settlement is paid or reached.

"Our PAMB did not only claim the negligence of the ship and its owners for being solidary in nature, also, it prayed that the PCG has a duty to protect the environment," Zapatos pointed out.

"This duty is explained in the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) case of December 2008 where the SC (Supreme Court) said that the statutory mandates of PCG, among other government entities, to protect the environment is a ministerial duty demandable by mandamus, for them to perform."

"It is our submission," Zapatos said, "that PCG should hold the ship for as long as it does not settle or pay their obligations because the ship caused damage to our environment; the PCG's authority to hold it is ministerial duty because the ship is the instrument of the violation of law."

The PCG is likewise mandated to suspend the travel documents and the certificates of the crew and ship, according to the legal officer. The PCG can even fine and rule on the physical damage that was caused by the ship to the detriment of the environment.

"On June 6, we have already demanded a security bond from the owners of the ship in order to ensure that there is that corresponding amount ready to pay us or settle our claims - no response as to this," Zapatos said.

The demand was made as Zapatos deplored the salvor's "slow operations".

"Their next date of attempt to refloat the ship is on June 15. The deadline for the issuance of the security bond will also be on June 15," Zapatos said.

At Bacud Reef, MV Double Prosperity continues to unload her cargo of coal to a barge, according to Carmelo Velasco, municipal planning officer.

"Many old fisherfolk are trying to extend help to cast away bad spirits through prayers and material offerings," Velasco said. "That's according to their beliefs. You can't pull the vessel unless you offer."

A situation report dated June 3 by CDR. Roy Echeverria, acting station commander of Coast Guard Station Gensan, stated that the salvor attempted to refloat MV Double Prosperity that day "with negative result."

Echeverria also said in a June 7 report that "no oil leaks and no security threat (were) observed." An officer and five PCG personnel on board the cargo ship were all accounted for.

Double Prosperity stuck in Bakud Reef, Sarangani 05/20/11 （Mindanao Magazine）
SARANGANI (May 12, 2011) – Bulk carrier overseas ship MV Double Prosperity remains stuck at Bakud Reef Thursday, May 12, after running aground 2.5 nautical miles off Kiamba town, Sarangani and within the municipal waters at 10 a.m. Sunday (May 8). Bakud Reef is part of the protected seascape under Presidential Proclamation No. 756. Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez has notified the owner of the vessel – Yano Kaiun Co. Ltd. Of Japan – to discuss with the municipal and provincial government, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the liabilities of Double Prosperity. “As time is of the essence, please inform us the soonest of your response to this letter and send your authorized agent on May 16, 2011 in Sarangani Province, otherwise we shall consider your silence and inaction as waiver on your part to discuss our claims and we shall be forced to attach your vessel to answer for the financial liabilities to our marine environment,” said Governor Dominguez in a letter to the president of Yano Kaiun Co. Ltd. The vessel which departed Australia enroute to India is loaded with 65.351 MT of coal. The Duty Officer of the Watch identified as 3rd Mate Robert Ortega Cepe admitted that he did not notice the shallow area of Bakud Reef that caused the vessel to run aground on its forward portion. Authorities believe that an estimated 4 hectares of marine life were damaged, after about 40% of the 244-meter ship rammed into the coral reefs. Captain Danilo Sta. Ana of the MV Double Prosperity admitted that the accident was the crew’s fault. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Standoff keeps Nokor vessel in Ilocos town By Cristina Arzadon 06/09/11 （INQUIRER.net）
LAOAG CITY—The standoff over the removal of a North Korean vessel from the shores of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, has reached the courts while the coastal damage inflicted on the province’s tourism industry takes a back seat.

On one side is the vessel owner, Aoyang Marine Co., which has been trying to remove the MV Nam Yang 8. On the other is Mayor Matilde Sales, who sought court help to stop Aoyang from removing the vessel for fear that the town’s claim for damages will vanish with the vessel.

The regional trial court in Bangui town granted Sales’ petition for a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on May 31. A hearing is set on June 9.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has repeatedly called on Sales to allow the owner to remove the vessel along with scrap metal that had been salvaged.

Marcos said the threat of new oil seepage continues to hang over Pagudpud’s waters as long as the vessel is there.

On Monday, the provincial board recommended the 60-day preventive suspension of Sales, “effective immediately,” for defying calls for the removal of the vessel.

But the authority to remove the vessel does not lie with the mayor.

Capt. George Ursabia, district commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in northern Luzon, said the authority lies with the PCG.

Ursabia said the PCG would explain to the court the need to lift the TRO so the owner can continue with the salvaging.

“The removal of the wreck is urgent… to eliminate the threat it poses to the public and the environment,” he said.

“While salvaging is urgent, the disposal of the materials [that will be salvaged] is not,” he added.

The two-month period to salvage the vessel ended on May 16. Since last year, two salvors—Harbor Star and Pen Con Corp.—have come and gone.

Ursabia said the vessel owner should hire another salvor because the second salvor, Pen Con, had caused two cases of oil leaks in March, and earlier this month. He said PCG is studying what charges to file against Pen Con.

At least 50 percent of the vessel’s metal had been removed. He said reports of theft of scrap metal from the vessel have become rampant. The Bureau of Customs, he said, is in charge of safeguarding the scrap metal.

Mayor Sales said the salvaged materials are the town’s remaining guarantee that its claims for damages will be paid.

“If the vessel is completely taken out, we won’t have anything to hold against the vessel owner,” she said. Resort owners are likely to file separate claims for damages.

The vessel has been sitting off the shores of Barangay Balaoi for more than a year since it ran aground in January last year when it developed engine trouble on its way to China.

It was carrying magnetite ore, or black sand, extracted from Cagayan.

22 North Koreans abandon troubled ship in Philippines 01/10/10 （PhilSTAR.com）
ILAGAN (AP) — Twenty-two North Korean crewmen abandoned their cargo ship after it listed dangerously and then ran aground in the northern Philippines, officials said Friday.

One of the Koreans was slightly injured as he abandoned the listing M/V Nam Yang 8 late Thursday off Claveria township in Cagayan province. They transferred to a life raft and reached Claveria, where villagers helped them obtain police assistance, regional police Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian said.

The Nam Yang 8, loaded with a low-grade iron ore called magnetite, left the northern Philippine province of Aparri late Thursday and was en route to China when it encountered large waves and began to list off Claveria, coast guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.

When the 3,461-ton ship's engine lost power, its skipper ordered his crew to abandon ship, Tamayo said.

The ship drifted and later ran aground in nearby Ilocos Norte province, he said.

Damian said immigration authorities were checking if the North Koreans have required work permits.

The sea accident was the latest off the Philippines in recent days.

Dozens of people remain missing after the ferry MV Baleno-9 sank off Batangas, south of Manila, on Dec. 26.

Separately, 24 people remain missing and are feared dead after their wooden-hulled ferry collided with a fishing boat and rapidly sank near Manila on Christmas Eve, the coast guard said.

Sea accidents are common in the archipelago because of frequent tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations.

22 Koreans swim to safety after ship capsizes By Abigail Kwok 01/01/10 （INQUIRER.net）
MANILA, Philippines -- Twenty-two Korean nationals survived a sea mishap when the ship they were on capsized off Cagayan province New Year's Eve, police said Friday.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley regional director, said that the 22 Koreans were on board Nam Yang, a cargo vessel that was loaded with over 2,000 mega tons of magnetite.

The vessel left Port Aparri at 6 p.m. Thursday and at around 7 p.m., the vessel suddenly leaned on its left side due to the "unbalanced wet magnetite load," Damian said.

The ship capsized at about six nautical miles off Taggat Norte in Claveria town, he added.

At around 3 a.m. Friday, the 22 Korean nationals then abandoned their vessel and swam to shore, reaching the fish port in Claveria town early Friday morning and were taken by authorities.

Ho Chol Jon, one of the Korean passengers, sustained injuries after he was struck by the ship's propeller.

He was brought to the Agra Clinic for treatment while the 21 others were brought to the home of Taggat Norte village.

Damian said authorities were getting statements from the rescued victims as part of their investigation.

イージス艦衝突：「あたご」当直士官２人無罪　横浜地裁 05/11/11 （毎日新聞）

　海上自衛隊イージス艦「あたご」と漁船「清徳丸」の衝突事故で、漁船の２人を死亡させたとして業務上過失致死罪などに問われた自衛官２人（起訴休職中）に対し、横浜地裁は１１日、いずれも無罪（求刑・禁錮２年）を言い渡した。検察側が作成した航跡図について、秋山敬（ひろし）裁判長は「看過しがたい問題点がある。前提とする証拠の評価が誤っており、検察側の主張を認めることはできない」と批判。弁護側の主張と同様、漁船の右転が事故を招いたもので、漁船に回避義務があったと判断した。

　◇漁船に回避義務「航跡図に問題」

　起訴されたのは、衝突時の当直士官だった三佐、長岩友久被告（３７）と、直前の当直士官だった同、後潟（うしろがた）桂太郎被告（３８）。両被告はいずれも一貫して無罪を主張、清徳丸のＧＰＳ（全地球測位システム）機器が水没してデータを復元できなかったことから、同船の航跡が最大の争点となった。

　検察側は、清徳丸後方を航行していた僚船船長らの証言などを基に、衝突に至るまでの航跡図を作成。海上衝突予防法に基づき、清徳丸を右方向に見る位置にあった、あたご側に衝突回避の義務があったと主張した。

　弁護側は「検察側の航跡図は真実と全く異なる」と批判し、海難事故の専門家に依頼して独自の航跡図を証拠として提出。「あたご後方を通り過ぎるはずだった清徳丸が、衝突直前に大きく右転・増速したことが事故原因」と反論した。

　判決は、検察側航跡の根拠とされた僚船船長らによる「清徳丸は（僚船の船首から）左約７度、距離約３マイルに位置していた」との供述について「僚船船長は（検察官に）図面を指して『前方やや左にいた』とは言ったが自分から『７度』とは言っていない」と指摘。「恣意（しい）的に船長の供述を用いている」と述べ、調書化した供述の信用性を否定した。

　さらに長岩被告らの供述を基に、独自に航跡を特定。被告側の監視も不十分だったことなどを認めつつ、清徳丸が右転しなければ危険は生じず、直前になっても回避行動を取らなかったと指摘した。

　事故の再発防止のため原因究明をする海難審判の裁決は、長岩被告について「見張りが不十分」などと指摘する一方、後潟被告の行為に関しては「相当な因果関係があるとは認められない」と判断し、確定している。

　検察側は、後潟被告については、清徳丸などの漁船群を「停止操業中」と誤った引き継ぎをしたことから「長岩被告の回避措置を困難にし、衝突の危険性を生じさせた」として起訴していた。

　海自艦艇の海難事故を巡る刑事裁判は、３０人が死亡した潜水艦「なだしお」事故（８８年）以来２例目。この事故では元艦長と死者を出した遊漁船の元船長双方が業務上過失致死傷罪などに問われ、いずれも執行猶予が付いた有罪判決が確定した。【松倉佑輔、中島和哉】

　◇解説…証言頼み　立証方法に疑問

　検察側が作成した航跡図の信用性を否定した横浜地裁判決は、漁船のＧＰＳ機器水没で航跡を再現するための物的証拠がない中、関係者の証言に頼らざるを得ない検察側の立証方法に疑問を呈した。

　検察側は、清徳丸が後方の僚船から見て「左約７度、距離約３マイル」を航行していたとの僚船船長らの供述から航跡図を作成。しかし、弁護側は図面を検証し、「航跡が『７度、３マイル』の位置にない」と追及した。

　航跡図作成の実務を担当した海上保安官や捜査を指揮した検事は、証人尋問で「誤差」などと釈明したが、論告の段階で検察側は「僚船船長らの供述は、あくまで平均値で一定の幅がある」と主張、軌道修正を図った。

　しかし、判決はこの供述を基にした航跡図の作成方法を問題視し、検察側の航跡図の信用性を否定。「両被告に過失があったとする検察側の立証は不十分」として、長岩友久被告の監視が不十分だったことを事故原因とした横浜地方海難審判所裁決（０９年１月）と異なる結論を導いた。国が個人に刑罰を科すことを踏まえ、より厳密な立証が求められる刑事裁判の原則を重視し、捜査のあり方にも警鐘を鳴らしたとも言えるだろう。

　ただし、人命にかかわるような過失については、近年、かつてよりも積極的に刑事罰を科すという司法の流れがあり、検察側が控訴するのは確実視される。両被告の刑事責任は、東京高裁で改めて問われることになりそうだ。【松倉佑輔】

　◇あたご衝突事故

　千葉・野島崎沖で０８年２月１９日午前４時６分ごろ、海自イージス艦「あたご」と漁船「清徳丸」が衝突、清徳丸船長の吉清（きちせい）治夫さん（当時５８歳）と長男哲大（てつひろ）さん（同２３歳）が死亡した。横浜地方海難審判所は０９年１月の裁決で、あたご側に事故の主因を認め、所属部隊「第３護衛隊」（京都府舞鶴市）に安全航行の指導徹底を求める勧告を出した。横浜地検は同４月、業務上過失往来危険と業務上過失致死の２罪で自衛官２人を起訴した。

「あたご」衝突２士官無罪 05/11/11 （東京新聞）

　千葉県沖で二〇〇八年、海上自衛艦のイージス艦「あたご」と漁船「清徳丸」が衝突した事故で、業務上過失致死などの罪に問われた、当時の当直士官二人（起訴休職中）の判決公判が十一日、横浜地裁であった。秋山敬裁判長は事故の主因を清徳丸と認定。「清徳丸の航跡図などの検察側の証拠に誤りがあり、信用できない」として、衝突時の当直士官で元水雷長長岩友久（３７）と、衝突前の当直士官の元航海長後潟桂太郎（３８）の両被告に、無罪（いずれも求刑禁錮二年）を言い渡した。

　行政処分を決める海難審判の「事故の主因はあたご側にあった」とした裁決と、今回の司法判断が分かれた。

　海自艦事故をめぐる刑事裁判は一九八八年の潜水艦「なだしお」と遊漁船の衝突事故以来、二例目。

　公判では、事故の過失責任を左右する清徳丸の航跡などが争点となった。

　判決は、検察側の主張を「航跡の特定に看過しがたい問題点がある」として退けた。検察側の航跡図の根拠となった僚船船長の捜査段階の供述について、「先に作製していた航跡に、恣意（しい）的に供述を合わせた疑いがある」と調書の信用性を否定。捜査の不備も指摘した。

　事故原因は「清徳丸の右転で生じた。清徳丸が避航義務を負っていた」と認定。長岩被告の責任について「清徳丸が避航義務を負っていた以上、注意義務はない」とした。交代前の当直だった後潟被告についても「長岩被告が注意義務を負わない以上、注意義務を負ってない」と過失を否定した。

　事故をめぐっては、横浜地方海難審判所が〇九年一月、「あたご側に回避義務があった」と裁決し、所属部隊に勧告した。

　起訴状では、両被告は〇八年二月十九日未明、当直士官としての注意義務を怠るなどとして、千葉県房総半島沖で、あたごを清徳丸に衝突させ、清徳丸の乗組員二人を死亡させたとされる。

Preliminary Deepwater Horizon Report Rips Transocean, Marshall Islands 04/23/11 （The Daily Hurricane）
By Bob Cavnar on April 23, 2011 6:00 PM

Late yesterday, the Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation board issued a preliminary report of its findings related to causes of the Macondo well disaster that come under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard. This report focused only on the vessel, its condition, and the actions of the crew that caused the explosions and loss of the rig; it did not focus on the causes of the loss of well control, which will come in the complete report due out in July of this year.

The report clearly places blame on Transocean for the explosions after the blowout due to poor training, corroded and poorly maintained equipment, and bypassed alarms and shut down devices. The report also singled out the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the flag state of the Deepwater Horizon, for "abdicating its safety inspection responsibilities". The report was an indictment on the status quo of the offshore industry that allows drilling and service companies to unnecessarily risk lives and the environment through complacency, and tax avoidance and substandard safety requirements.

In its criticism of the Marshall Islands the joint committee said:

This investigation also revealed that the oversight and regulation of DEEPWATER HORIZON by its flag state, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), was ineffective in preventing this casualty. By delegating all of its inspection activities to "recognized organizations," without itself conducting on board oversight surveys, the RMI effectively abdicated its vessel inspection responsibilities. In turn, this failure illustrates the need to strengthen the system of U.S. Coast Guard oversight of foreign-flagged MODUs, which as currently constructed is too limited to effectively ensure the safety of such vessels (a MODU is a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit - ed.).

As we've talked about before, most drilling companies "flag" or register their vessels in countries other than the US, called flags of convenience. The companies all say that they do that to make it easier to move the vessels around the world more readily, but like incorporating their companies in foreign countries to avoid US taxes, they flag their vessels in countries that allow lax safety inspections, training, and crew requirements. Such is the case with all of Transocean's rigs and drillships (as well as most other companies') where they register their vessels in countries like not only the Marshall Islands, but Panama, the Bahamas, and the Caymans, as well as other countries with lax regulations and third-party contract inspectors. Some countries, like the Marshall Islands, actually allow the vessel owner to select (and pay) its own inspectors.

Other key findings for causes of the explosions were:

Failure to use the diverter line: The rig had 2 ways to keep wellbore fluids from coming onto the floor; one was a diverter, the dumps the oil and gas overboard. The other was the mud gas separator (MGS) that is better for keeping mud and oil out of the water, but which is limited in capacity. The crew chose the MGS, which was overloaded dumping a gas cloud over the rig. Hazardous electrical equipment: There was corroded and substandard electrical equipment in the engine room which likely caused the gas cloud to ignite. Gas detectors: were not set to automatically activate the emergency shut down systems, and worse, the bridge crew was not trained in what to do when the alarms activated. Had the rig's engines been immediately shut down, explosions could have been prevented or at least delayed. Bypassed systems: Gas detectors were either bypassed or inoperable when the rig exploded. Testimony demonstrated that standard practice was to "inhibit" their function so that, even though they were reported to the control panel, no alarm would sound. The crew also bypassed the automatic emergency shut down system. Design of Main and Emergency Power: The rig design was inadequate to prevent total shut down of power due to the proximity of the independent power and distribution systems. In short, the explosions took out all the power. Crew blast protection: As I noted in my book, Disater on the Horizon, the worst injuries (besides the drill floor and mud room deaths) occurred in the crew quarters. There was no blast protection between the quarters and the drill floor, causing virtual destruction of that area of the rig while crew members were sleeping. Command and control of the rig: A "clerical error" by the Marshall Islands allowed the Deepwater Horizon to by classified for a dual command structure. This meant that when the rig was latched up and drilling, the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) was in charge. When the rig was underway, it was under command of the Master or captain. This caused great confusion and delay during the emergency, with the Master actually asking the OIM for permission to activate the emergency disconnect system (EDS) to get off of the blowing out well.

Several other key mistakes and weaknesses caused the loss of the rig and additional injuries; one was a design flaw the powered the fire control system with only electrical power. When the power was knocked out, so was the firefighting system. Another was inadequate evacuation training, resulting in 11 crew members being left behind on the rig in the confusion. Additionally, the commission found that the rig likely sank due to damage during the explosions exacerbated by poor firefighting technique from the rescue ships that probably sank the rig by flooding it with water.

This first report from the Joint Investigation board is a stark view into the dangers of complacency, overconfidence, and a convoluted management structure resulting from years of success from cutting, both corners and cost. It also highlights how minor failures can cascade into a catastrophe that is initiated from poor training and judgement. It is clear that the US Government must change the basic rules of offshore drilling, from regulation of training and safety programs, maritime law and operating regulations, design and operations standards, and the financial incentives that are built into the system. Inspection frequency and thoroughness must be improved and penalties for violations greatly increased.

Even as the BOEMRE continues to issue permits for operators to re-enter the deepwater for more drilling, few of these issues are currently being addressed, especially those surrounding operations in US waters by vessels flying flags of convenience. Eliminating this particular loophole in maritime law is essential in assuring safer operations in the offshore, protecting American lives and jobs.

Bob Cavnar, a 30-year veteran of the oil and gas industry, is the author of Disaster on the Horizon: High Stakes, High Risks, and the Story Behind the Deepwater Well Blowout

Rig loss - a failure shared By Jim Mulrenan in London 04/22/11 （Tradewinds）
The Deepwater Horizon disaster that cost 11 lives and caused major pollution to the US Gulf Coast a year ago was the result of a tragic series of failures, an official report concluded today.

There were systematic failures in the safety management system of Transocean, the owner of the offshore drilling rig, but also fault elsewhere, a report from the US Coast Guard charged

“Deepwater Horizon and its owner, Transocean, have had serious safety management system failures and a poor safety culture manifested in continued maintenance deficiencies, training and knowledge gaps, and emergency preparedness weaknesses,” declares the report.

Oversight and regulation of the rig by the Marshall Islands flag state was also ineffective, with all inspection activities delegated to the DNV and ABS classification societies. The Marshall Islands “effectively abdicated its vessel inspection responsibilities,” the report contends.

And by not visiting or inspecting the Deepwater Horizon the Marshall Islands flag state lacked the ability to validate or audit the inspection reports produced by those it delegated its responsibilities to.

“Many well-known gaps in the “maritime safety net” for foreign-flagged mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) aligned and tragically failed to prevent the deaths of eleven people and the largest oil spill in US history,” the report says.

The report recommends that US Coast Guard oversight of foreign flagged MODUs be strengthened to improve safety.

"The safety management system failed to provide proper risk assessment, adequate maintenance and material condition, and process safety adherence. The flag state and the US Coast Guard did not identify these system failures in time to ensure the safety of the vessel,” the report notes.

The International Maritime Organisation’s regulations for MODU’s come in for criticism for not establishing clear requirements relating to electrical equipment.

The IMO’s MODU code is also regarded as insufficient in terms of providing for an adequate level of protection for major fires. The report says fixed deluge systems rather than manual fire hoses are required to fight major hydrocarbon fires.

The report calls on the commandant of the US Coast Guard to work with IMO to achieve multiple improvements in the MODU regulations.

The Deepwater Horizon rig operating in the Macondo field 40 miles off Louisiana suffered a blow out with the failure of the blow out preventer allowing a massive fire to burn out of control until the rig sank.

The US Coast Guard report reaches 61 conclusions, makes 54 safety recommendations and nine administrative recommendations.

Today’s report is not a final determination but a series of recommendations to the commandant of the US Coast Guard.

“This investigation seeks to prevent an accident similar to the Deepwater Horizon by identifying the factors that led to the tragedy and making recommendations to remove or minimize those factors in the future,” said Capt David Fish, the US Coast Guards head of casualty investigations.

“While nothing can bring back the 11 people who perished in this disaster, there is much that should be learned for the future,” Fish added.

The report also hails the fact that despite the deaths and injuries to 16 a total of 115 people successful survived the disaster.

Publication of volume two of the investigation has been postponed because of the ongoing investigation into the failure of the Deepwater Horizon’s blow out preventer.

The final joint investigation team report on the Deepwater Horizon loss is likely to be published in late July.

伊勢エビ漁阻む座礁船、宮崎市漁協の漁獲２割減 02/24/11 （読売新聞）

　西日本有数の伊勢エビ漁場として知られる宮崎市沖の日向灘で、水没した浚渫(しゅんせつ)船が妨げとなって地元漁協の漁船が周辺で操業できず、２０１０年度の伊勢エビの水揚げが推定で例年の約２割減となったことがわかった。損失は２０００万～３０００万円とみられる。船の撤去は秋の漁が始まる前に完了する予定だが、漁協側が船主の中国企業との間で行っている補償交渉は難航しており、解決のめどはたってないという。

　事故は昨年１０月２４日に発生。ベリーズ船籍の浚渫船（全長約１２２メートル、５９１０トン）がタグボートにえい航されていた際、つながれていたワイヤロープが切れ、同市折生迫(おりうざこ)沖で「鬼の洗濯板」として知られる国の天然記念物の浅瀬に座礁。１月に韓国のサルベージ会社が離礁を試みたが失敗し、約２００メートル離れた海底の岩場にほぼ水没した。

　伊勢エビの漁期は９月～４月。事故後、沈んだ船から半径約１００メートルの範囲では、漁の網が船に絡んだり、約１０メートルの亀裂が入った船体の一部が破損し、崩れ落ちたりする危険性があるため、地元の宮崎市漁協組合員約５０人は漁ができないまま今月１４日、漁期を終えた。市漁協関係者によると、この影響で１０年度、市漁協の水揚げは例年の２６～２７トンに対し、今季は推定で２０トン程度にとどまった。

　市漁協は昨年１２月、船主の中国企業「浙江天海海洋経済科技開発有限公司」（浙江省杭州市）に漁業補償を求め、交渉を開始した。同社は３月に開かれた市漁協などに対する説明会で、「船主責任保険で支払う」との意向を示す一方、ロシアの保険会社が「保険料の受領完了が事故後で、保険契約が成立したと考えていない」として支払いを拒んでいることも明かした。

　市漁協によると、船の撤去は日本のサルベージ会社が担当し、６月末までに完了する予定。市漁協の矢部広一組合長（６０）は「船主は補償と船の撤去をきちんとしてほしい」と訴えている。

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁：事故５カ月　撤去のめど立たず　／宮崎 02/24/11 （毎日新聞　地方版）

　◇作業頓挫のまま　中国の所有社、解体には難色

　宮崎市折生迫の鬼の洗濯板に、ベリーズ船籍のしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）が座礁して２４日で丸５カ月。船を所有する中国の会社は、海難船救助が専門のサルベージ会社（韓国）に撤去を依頼していたが、離岸には成功していない。中国の会社は、解体撤去には難色を示しており、１月２０日を最後に作業は頓挫したままだ。

　中国の会社は今月１８日、宮崎市内で県や漁協関係者に、サルベージ会社の変更を伝え、あくまで船体を浮かせて、えい航する方針を伝えた。

　しゅんせつ船は全長１２０メートル、船幅２０メートル、高さ３０メートルの機械を搭載した大型台船。現在、船体は全体に傾き、最深部で約１６メートル沈んだ状態。韓国の会社に代わって中村産業（鹿児島県）が撤去を請け負うが、海水を排出し、船体を浮かせる方法は、韓国のサルベージ会社も試みたが失敗している。

　出席者からは「実現は不可能」との声や、現場がイセエビの漁場であることから漁業関係者からは補償を望む声も上がった。

　一帯は、日南海岸国定公園で県を代表する景勝地。進まぬ撤去に住民はいらだちも隠せない。近くに住む小城アキヲさん（８３）は「実生活に影響はないが、大きくて目立つ。観光名所なので、早く撤去してほしい」と話している。

　しゅんせつ船は、昨年１０月２４日、山口県徳山下松港から中国へ向かう途中、日向灘沖でタグボートのワイヤが切れて漂流、鬼の洗濯板に座礁した。【中村清雅】

Firm fined in barge sinking
Atlantic Towing must pay $75,000 for safety breaches that endangered crew’s lives
03/09/11 （The ChronicleHerald.ca）

A judge has fined Irving-owned Atlantic Towing Ltd. $75,000 for potentially jeopardizing the safety of one of its barges and its crew in November 2008.

The inspection certificate on the Irving-owned barge that sank off Yarmouth had expired about seven years before the Shovelmaster went down carrying 70,000 litres of diesel fuel.

The Shovelmaster was also restricted from going more than about 24 kilometres offshore and it wasn’t supposed to have anyone aboard while under tow. But the barge was being towed by a tug about 40 kilometres offshore when it ran into heavy weather, forcing the rescue of three crewmen on board.

"The charted course failed to account for the risk of disaster striking in worsening conditions and rescuers having that much more distance to cover. With men on board the Shovelmaster, a catastrophic turn of events would directly risk lives," Justice Anne Derrick of Nova Scotia Supreme Court wrote in a 23-page decision released Tuesday.

Atlantic Towing pleaded guilty last month to the charge brought under the Canada Shipping Act. This was the first prosecution under a new section of the act.

A maximum fine for the violation is $1 million. Atlantic Towing argued it should be fined $15,000 to $25,000.

"ATL’s suggestion that a fine in this range is justified by its exemplary safety record, the fact of the weather conditions being worse than expected, and the reasonableness of its assessment that the trip could be accomplished safely, fails to address the decision, notwithstanding the predicted gale, to put crew on the Shovelmaster and sail more than 15 nautical miles offshore," Derricks wrote.

The Crown was looking for a fine of $90,000 to $100,000 "to reflect the gravity of the offence, the blameworthiness of Atlantic Towing Ltd., and the fact that it is a large-scale commercial operation," Derrick said.

"The Crown wants to ensure the fine packs a punch, that it is not seen as akin to a licensing fee carrying no material consequences for safety breaches."

The judge said "this is not a case where the fine needs to achieve specific deterrence."

"This is a case where the emphasis should be on general deterrence in the context of a business with substantial assets. Other large Canadian shipping companies should understand from this case that bad judgment will attract significant consequences where lives are imperilled and a vessel is lost."

Gale warnings were in effect for waters off southwestern Nova Scotia on Nov. 18, 2008, when the company’s tug, Atlantic Larch, left Saint John, N.B., bound for Halifax, towing the Shovelmaster, court documents say.

The next day, the two vessels encountered heavy weather about 40 kilometres off southwestern Nova Scotia.

"The hazard that sank the Shovelmaster was a pounding, gale-whipped sea," Derrick wrote. "A powerful wave smashed into the garage door that protected the crew’s quarters and swamped the dredge. Over a period of about 3½ hours, the Shovelmaster filled with sea water and eventually capsized. The storm also disabled the pump that was flushing water out of the stricken dredge."

Atlantic Towing argued that the garage door was taken out by a nine-metre rogue wave that came out of nowhere.

Derrick didn’t accept that it would have taken that large a wave to buckle the door.

"In my view, evidence that there was a rogue wave would not make a difference in this case," the judge wrote. "Having undertaken an unsafe voyage, ATL’s culpability is not diminished because weather conditions that were expected to be bad became worse than predicted."

While the judge said "this is not a case of a corporation engaging in a ‘wilful, surreptitious’ violation of safety requirements," Derrick noted that "it is not quite a case of misapprehending a hazard either."

Atlantic Towing identified the hazardous weather in advance but miscalculated the risks associated with it, she said.

The tug’s crew couldn’t rescue the three men on the barge, so they called in a military helicopter.

"The consequences of the Shovelmaster’s voyage could have been deadly," Derrick wrote. "The three crew members had to jump into the raging seas in order to be rescued."

The Shovelmaster capsized shortly after 4 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2008, about 26 minutes after search and rescue technicians picked up its crew from the water.

"The decision to undertake a ‘manned’ voyage five miles farther from shore than the Shovelmaster had ever been certified for into the teeth of a gale was fraught with risk," Derrick wrote. "The dangers this posed materialized when the garage door was smashed off its moorings and the dredge began to take on water. The timely intervention of search and rescue and a harrowing rescue averted a disaster."

Atlantic Towing suggested in its final submissions "that the situation was not life-threatening," Derrick wrote, but she labelled that position untenable.

"The rescue could have come too late — the Shovelmaster being 20 miles from shore added to the time required to reach the sinking dredge, or it could have gone badly — conditions 20 miles offshore in a gale were hazardous, and the men could have drowned."

Derrick said she viewed safety measures Atlantic Towing has put in place since then as a mitigating factor in the sentencing. Those include a compliance review, recertification of its barges and a policy that requires all similar barges to be towed without crew aboard.

"This is a case where actions speak louder than words," the judge wrote. "ATL’s actions . . . indicate to me that ATL has learned from the events of November 18 and 19, 2008. ATL responded to the incident by taking meaningful steps to ensure it is operating a safe workplace."

宮崎の座礁船現場で解体へ 02/23/11 （読売新聞）

えい航を断念

　宮崎市折生迫(おりうざこ)の浅瀬に座礁していたポンプしゅんせつ船が、撤去作業中に水没した問題で、韓国の海運会社「コリア・サルベージ」は２２日、えい航による撤去を断念し、現場で解体する方針を明らかにした。

　同社のエンジニアらが２２日、目視調査したところ、船体の左右に、甲板から船底にかけて約１０メートルの亀裂が入っていた。えい航できないと判断し、中国の船主と協議して解体の作業日程などを決める。作業は準備から撤去まで約２週間かかるという。

　しゅんせつ船は昨年１０月２４日、タグボートにえい航されて航行中、ワイヤロープが切れて漂流し、鬼の洗濯板に座礁した。１月２０日、船内の水を排水し、タグボートで沖合約２００メートルまでえい航したが、傾いて水深約１０メートルの海域で沈んだ。

宮崎市・鬼の洗濯板の座礁船　切断して回収へ 02/23/11 （西日本新聞朝刊）

　宮崎市の観光名所「鬼の洗濯板」で昨年１０月、しゅんせつ船が座礁した問題で、撤去を請け負った韓国のサルベージ会社は２２日、船体に亀裂が入り、つり上げてえい航することが不可能になったことを明らかにした。今後は船体を切断して回収する方針。

　同社によると同日朝、船首から約２０メートルの両側面に亀裂を確認した。亀裂は波と船首のやぐらの重量で起きたとみられ、船底部分まで到達している可能性がある。

　船は１月２０日の離岸作業中、船体が傾き水没していた。同社の代表は「今後、船を所有する中国の会社と相談して、来月中にも作業に着手したい」と話した。

座礁船に亀裂　撤去予定白紙 02/23/11 （朝日新聞）

　宮崎市の「鬼の洗濯板（岩）」付近で座礁したポンプ浚渫（しゅんせつ）船の撤去問題で、担当するサルベージ会社が２２日、同市内で説明会を開き、「撤去の予定が白紙になった」と発表した。昨年１０月に座礁し、今年１月の撤去作業は失敗。説明会で撤去日程を発表する予定だったが、この日の目視調査で船首から約２０メートルのところに亀裂が見つかったという。同社は「船体を切断しなければ（撤去は）難しい」と話した。（坂本進）

外国籍の貨物船が大連の港で大傾斜　石油流出 （1/4） (2/4) (3/4) 4/4) 02/17/11（中国網）

遼寧省大連市にある大窑湾で、貨物船「SUN UNITY」号から流出した原油を処理する救援スタッフたち（2月16日）

朝鮮から来た125個のコンテナを積んだシエラレオネ籍の貨物船「SUN UNITY」号が16日3時ごろ、大連市大窑湾の第1期ターミナル9号バースに停泊した。コンテナ作業中、貨物船が厳しく傾斜し、原油が流出した。

救援チームは直ちに現場に駆けつけ、救援作業を行い、17人の朝鮮籍の乗組員を全員安全な場所に避難させた。船体は正常に回復し、流出した石油の処理が行われている。事故原因は現在調査中だという。

Nordland 1 Ashore 02/04/11 （Shipwrecks）

German freighter beached in Germany 02/05/11 （Maritime Bulletin）
The "Nordland 1" grounded in stormy weather on Borkum beach, North sea, Germany, in the night of Feb 4, 2011. The rescue boat "Alfried Krupp" was on scene and launched, as he was not able to reach the grounding site due to the shallow water, its small boat, the "Glückauf", and also the tug "Waterstroom" meanwhile arrived.
As of Feb 5 vessel remains stuck at the sea promenade of Borkum. An attempt of the "Alfried Krupp" at 11 p.m. to refloat the ship failed. The tug which had been called from Eemshaven had to cancel its attempts too. The strong wind kept the water from rising high enough for a successful refloating attempt.
Vesseltracker.com

General cargo Nordland I IMO 5255272, dwt 389, built 1962, flag Germany.

Seven seamen from the sunk dry-cargo ship 02/13/11 （VIKNO）
Missing persons at wreck of dry-cargo ship "Alexander" seven Russian seamen are not found till now. Since February, 9th searches at coast of South Korea round the clock conduct two helicopters and 14 courts, while unsuccessfully. On it has informed the State sea saving-coordination centre of Russia referring to the Coast guard of South Korea, transfers RIA PrimaMedia.

We Will remind, dry-cargo ship "Alexander" under the flag of Cambodia (the port of registry Pnom-Penh) on Wednesday has suffered ship-wreck in 16 miles from port Ulsan. One of causes of the tragedy name collision with collision with the South Korean container truck of Hyundai Heavy Industry load-carrying capacity of 88 thousand tons. Onboard "Alexanders" there were 12 Russians - inhabitants of the Find, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Rescuers during operation managed to rescue one seaman and to lift aboard bodies of four victims. Search of seven crewmen proceeds till now.

The Sea police of South Korea has found the vessel which has rammed dry-cargo ship "Alexander". The South Korean ship-building company "xevi indаstriz" has presented to Hyonde condolences because the container truck-giant constructed on shipyards of this enterprise in the city of Ulsan, has sunk the cargo steam-ship with the Russian crew.

As a result of collision four Russians were lost, seven were missing, one - is rescued. Steam-ship "Alexander" has appeared broken off half-and-half. Its nasal part till now drifting nearby to port Ulsan, it decided to tow off in a safe place. The captain of the container truck responds to polls of representatives of sea police of Republic Korea.

Hyundai Container Ship Sinks Cambodian Freighter 02/11/11 （The Chosunilbo）
The sinking of a 1,500-ton Cambodian freighter off Ulsan on Wednesday was caused by collision with an 88,600-ton container ship built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Coast Guard in Ulsan said on Thursday.

Of the 12 Russian sailors aboard the freighter Alexandria, Coast Guard ships rescued one and recovered four bodies. Seven are still missing.

The container ship collided with the Alexandria at around 6 a.m. Wednesday 30 km off the shipyard while undergoing tests. The freighter was torn apart in the accident, with the stern sunk and the bow remaining afloat.

Hopes of finding any more survivors are fading fast as most of the sailors were at the stern when the freighter was torn apart.

Cargo vessel sinks after Korea collision, 4 dead 02/11/11 （Straites Times）

A member of the Ulsan Coast Guard uses a pair of binoculars to search for possible survivors from the sunken Cambodian bulk carrier 'Alexandra' on the sea off Ulsan, Seoul. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SEOUL - A CAMBODIAN-FLAGGED cargo ship sank off South Korea's east coast, killing four people and leaving seven missing, after colliding with a container vessel belonging South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries , the coast guard said on Thursday.

Neither vessel was carrying any cargo, and there was no immediate sign of any leaks which could cause environmential damage, a spokesman at the Ulsan Coast Guard said, adding the incident was under investigation.

The 1,500-tonne Alexandria with 12 Russian sailors sank of the south-east port of Ulsan on Wednesday.

'We express deep regret over the sinking, and for the dead or missing sailors and their families. We will do our best for the rescue process with related authorities,' Hyundai said in a statement on Thursday. -- REUTERS

Hyundai Container Ship Sinks Cambodian Freighter 02/11/11 （The Chosunilbo）
The sinking of a 1,500-ton Cambodian freighter off Ulsan on Wednesday was caused by collision with an 88,600-ton container ship built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Coast Guard in Ulsan said on Thursday.

Of the 12 Russian sailors aboard the freighter Alexandria, Coast Guard ships rescued one and recovered four bodies. Seven are still missing.

The container ship collided with the Alexandria at around 6 a.m. Wednesday 30 km off the shipyard while undergoing tests. The freighter was torn apart in the accident, with the stern sunk and the bow remaining afloat.

Hopes of finding any more survivors are fading fast as most of the sailors were at the stern when the freighter was torn apart.

S.Korea Questions Captain After Collision Kills Russian Sailors 02/11/11 （Bloomberg）
The South Korean coast guard is questioning the captain of a Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. container ship that collided with a Cambodian-flagged freighter, killing four Russian sailors and leaving seven others missing.

The freighter was sailing from Japan to China when it collided with the Hyundai vessel, Lee Sung Kang, a spokesman for the coast guard, said by telephone today. The collision took place on Feb. 9 in the ocean off Ulsan, to the southeast of the Korean peninsula, Lee said.

韓国沖で船の衝突事故、折れた船首が対馬沖に漂流 02/11/11 （朝日新聞）

　韓国の海洋警察庁から日本の海上保安庁に１１日入った連絡によると、韓国・蔚山沖で９日午前７時ごろ、韓国籍のコンテナ船（８万８千トン）とカンボジア籍の貨物船（１５００トン）が衝突する事故があり、貨物船は船体が二つに折れて沈没した。貨物船にはロシア人乗組員１２人がおり、１人は救助されたが、４人が死亡、７人が行方不明になっている。貨物船の船首部分は南へ漂流し、１１日朝、長崎県対馬沖の日本の排他的経済水域へ入った。

　対馬海上保安部によると、貨物船の船首部分は１１日午後２時現在、対馬市上対馬町の北東約３８キロ付近にあり、同保安部の巡視艇が現場海域で船体を監視している。油の流出はないが、長さが約５０メートルあるため、近くを航行する船舶に注意を呼びかけている。衝突事故があった海域では韓国海洋警察の艦艇５隻が捜索を続けているという。

Ship carrying 226 passengers catches fire on way to Bangka （02/08/11）（ilmare24ore.com）
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 02/08/2011A ship carrying 226 passengers heading from Tanjung Priok, Jakarta to Bangka Belitung caught fire at 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jakarta Police aquatic division chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edion said Tuesday.The fire is suspected to have started in the vessel's engine room, and the blaze had been completely extinguished by 5.10 a.m.“We are in the process of evacuating passengers, ” Edion said.The evacuees were taken to two points, Pelni harbour and Tanjung Priok port.This is the second time in two weeks a passenger ship has caught fire in Indonesian waters.Previously, on Jan. 28, the KM Laut Teduh 2 passenger ferry caught fire in the Sunda Strait, killing 16 people.

No one killed in ship fire: Govt （02/08/11）（The Jakarta Post）
All 226 passengers of passenger ship KMP Silvia survived the fire that hit the ship at sea on Tuesday morning.

“The fire was put out at 5.10 a.m. and all passengers have been evacuated, but the ship crew members remain at the ship,” Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang S. Ervan said as quoted by kompas.com.

Bambang said the ship departed from Tanjung Priok port at 2.15 a.m. to Bangka, but it caught fire 2.5 miles south off Damar island or 10 miles off Tanjung Priok port.

Two more bodies recovered from ferry （01/31/11）（The Jakarta Post）
The remains of two more victims of the ferry that caught fire in the Sunda Strait on Friday were recovered Monday.

“Both of the bodies were burnt. We only recovered the heads,” Banten Police search and rescue head Comr. Noman T Narpatri said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The remains were found on the lowest deck of the ship and were sent to Krakatau Medika Hospital in Cilegon, West Java.

“I hope citizens who have failed to find family members will come to the hospital to help us identify the victims,” Noman said.

First Brig. Agus Rubiansyah said one set of remains had been found beside a truck with license plate number G1987.

So far, the remains of 22 victims have been recovered from the Laut Teduh II Ferry, which caught fire early Friday morning.

KNKT investigates ferry fire （01/29/11）（The Jakarta Post）
The National Committee on Transportation Safety (KNKT) began gathering evidence in the Lautan Teduh ferry fire, an official said. He added that the KNKT’s first step in the investigation was interviewing the survivors.

“We have interviewed numerous parties involved, starting with the boat crew to the passengers who survived the calamity,” Alex Nur Wahyudi, a KNKT member, said as quoted by Kompas.com on Saturday.

Alex said the results of the interviews would be followed up by the advance team. This team, he added, would also conduct physical verification between the testimonies and the situation on board the ferry.

He said the KNKT vowed to complete the investigation within eight months, despite the fact that the Transportation Safety Law allows transportation casualty investigations to last as long as a year.

Search continues for 12 people missing in ship accident （10/23/10）（The Jakarta Post）
Rescue workers continued on Saturday their effort to locate 12 people who went missing after a small wooden ship sank Friday in Ende waters in East Nusa Tenggara.

Head of the sea patrol and security at the local transportation agency Capt. Untung said 36 out of 48 people aboard the ship had been rescued as of Saturday morning. He added that two ships from the search and rescue agency and the water police were combing the Ende waters to find the missing passengers.

The ship, KM Karya Terang sank off the cape of Watumanuk on Flores island as it was traveling from Palue, a small island off the island's northern coast, to Maumere.

The cause of the accident remained, but the ship was sailing in heavy waves against a strong current.

“An investigation is being conducted by the sea transportation authorities,” Untung said as quoted by kompas.com. He added that many passengers ship operating in the area lacked safety equipment.

砂浜に重油、鳥も被害　能登半島西海岸、座礁した船から（02/03/11）（朝日新聞）

　石川県・能登半島の西沿岸に大量の重油が漂着し、２日、除去作業が始まった。先月３０日、金沢港沖で座礁したパナマ船籍の貨物船「ＢＯＨＡＩ　ＣＨＡＬＬＥＮＧＥ」（８７０８トン）から流出したもので、重油にまみれた水鳥の死骸もみつかっている。

　同県かほく市から宝達志水町の全域約２０キロにわたり、ひどいところでは重油の固まりが５～１０メートルの幅で帯状に延びている。国内で唯一車で走れるとして人気の砂浜「なぎさドライブウェイ」にも漂着している。

　県と金沢海上保安部の要請を受け、２日朝、船主が専門業者約２０人で除去を始めた。作業が終了する見込みは立っていない。同海保によると、座礁した貨物船には燃料の重油約４５０キロリットルが残っていたという。

「ナホトカ号と同じような被害」　重油漂着の千里浜海岸（02/03/11）（朝日新聞）

　金沢港沖で座礁した貨物船から流出した重油が千里浜海岸などに漂着した事故は、重油を取り除く作業に少なくとも数日は要する見込みだ。重油にまみれた水鳥数羽が確認されるなど、生き物への影響も出始めた。

　被害はかほく市と宝達志水町が中心だが、内灘町や羽咋市、志賀町でも一部漂着が確認されているという。除去作業は２日午前８時半ごろから、専門の作業員約２０人が２カ所に分かれて進めた。被害が最もひどい、かほく市の能登有料道路看護大インターチェンジ付近では、約１０人が金属製のヘラで砂の表面にべっとりと張り付いた重油を根気よく取り除いていった。しかし、重油は５メートルから１０メートルの幅で砂浜を覆い尽くすように着いており、作業は難航。この場所では１日で５０メートルほどを終えただけだった。

　処理を担当する保険会社によると、３日は人数を約４０人に倍増し、海上災害防止センター（神奈川県）からビーチクリーナーという機器も取り寄せる。担当者は「新たな漂着がなければあと数日で処理できるのでは」と見込む。

　現場では２日、重油まみれの水鳥が、波打ち際にうずくまっている姿が確認されている。県自然保護課は地元自治体に「被害にあった鳥を保護したら、いしかわ動物園で手当てをする」と伝えているが、午後５時半現在、保護された鳥はいないという。羽咋市環境安全課の職員は「近寄るとよたよたと海の中へ逃げていった」と残念がる。

　１９９７年１月のロシアタンカー「ナホトカ号」の流出事故と重ね、被害拡大を心配する声もある。かほく市環境安全推進室の池田昌健補佐は「あの時と比べると砂浜を覆う面積は狭いが、同じような被害だ。テトラポッドに入ると長期間消えない」と話す。

　１日に海岸を散歩していて重油に気づいたという宝達志水町今浜の山下士郎さんは「ナホトカ号のときはボランティアで参加したが、またこんな事故が起きて残念です」と話していた。（大畠正吾）

金沢港のパナマ貨物船座礁：油流出に対応　海保など確認　／石川（02/01/11）（毎日新聞　地方版）

　金沢港でパナマ船籍の貨物船が３０日未明に座礁した事故で、金沢海保は３１日、県庁で連絡会議を開き、県や沿岸自治体、漁協関係者らと油流出の現状や今後の対応を確認した。

　座礁した貨物船「ＢＯＨＡＩ　ＣＨＡＬＬＥＮＧＥ」は、燃料にＣ重油４４３キロリットル、Ａ重油９５キロリットルを搭載。流出すると大きな被害になる恐れがある。

　金沢海保が３１日朝、航空機などで確認したところ、船は防波堤に乗り上げたままで、船の北側に幅２００メートル、長さ１・２キロにわたって薄い油が広がっている他、周辺３カ所に油膜が見られたという。会議では、貨物船の所有者が船からの油の抜き取り、船体の処分を実施することが確認された。【近藤希実】

韓国籍タンカーと漁船が山口沖で衝突　愛媛の男性けが（01/24/11）（産経新聞）

　２３日午後４時４０分ごろ、山口県柳井市平郡島南東約７キロの伊予灘で、韓国籍のケミカルタンカー「ＫＥＯＹＯＵＮＧ　ＳＫＹ」（７４０トン、９人乗り組み）と愛媛県伊予市湊町、加納誠さん（３６）の底引き網漁船「誠丸」（４・８トン、２人乗り組み）が衝突した。

　柳井海上保安署によると漁船は転覆、加納さんと弟の忍さん（３３）が海に投げ出された。加納さんは頭部打撲などで軽傷、忍さんにけがはなかった。

　タンカーは潤滑油を積んでいたが、流出はなかった。タンカーの船首などに擦り傷があり、同保安署は、両船の見張りが不十分だった可能性もあるとみて、業務上過失往来危険などの疑いで調べる。

貨物船座礁　１９人全員救助（01/30/11）（NHK石川県のニュース）

３０日午前０時半すぎ、金沢港でパナマ船籍の貨物船が防波堤に乗り上げて座礁した事故で、金沢海上保安部は午前１０時ごろ、船内にいた１９人全員を救助しました。金沢海上保安部によりますと全員けがはないということです。

３０日午前０時半すぎ、金沢港大野の岸壁からおよそ１．８キロ離れた西防波堤の中央付近で、鋼材などを積んで中国の大連から金沢港に向かっていたパナマ船籍の貨物船「ＢＯＨＡＩＣＨＡＬＬＥＮＧＥ」８７０８トンが座礁しました。

この貨物船には船長や乗組員など中国人あわせて１９人が乗っており、金沢海上保安部では巡視艇とタグボートを使い、午前１０時ごろ、全員を救助して陸上に運びました。

金沢海上保安部によりますと、けがをした人はいないということです。

この貨物船は▼機関室が浸水した状態で防波堤に残され、▼船体から油が海上に流れ出ているということで、金沢海上保安部では貨物船の横に巡視艇を付け、監視を続けています。

貨物船が座礁した当時、現場の沿岸には波浪警報が出され、金沢港付近の▽波の高さは４メートル、▽風速は１４メートルで視界が悪かったということです。

金沢海上保安部は救助した乗組員から事情を聞くなどして貨物船が座礁した状況を詳しく調べています。

貨物船が防波堤に乗り上げ、重油流出…金沢港（01/30/11）（読売新聞）

　金沢海上保安部によると、３０日午前０時４０分頃、パナマ船籍の貨物船「ＢＯＨＡＩ　ＣＨＡＬＬＥＮＧＥ」（８７０８トン）が、金沢市の金沢港西防波堤に乗り上げ、航行不能になった。

　乗組員の中国人１９人全員が救出され、けが人はいない。また、同日正午現在、船から燃料とみられる重油が海上に流出しているという。

　同海保によると、事故当時は風速１４メートル、波の高さは４メートルで海上には雪が激しく降っており、視界不良だった。同船は、鋼材を積んで中国・大連を出航し、同日午前１０時に金沢港に入港する予定だった。

座礁：金沢港でパナマ船籍の貨物船　吹雪で視界悪く（01/30/11）（毎日新聞）

　３０日午前０時４０分ごろ、金沢市大野町４の金沢港に入港しようとしていたパナマ船籍の貨物船「ＢＯＨＡＩ　ＣＨＡＬＬＥＮＧＥ」（８７０８トン）のエンジンが止まり、港外側の防波堤に接触、座礁した。海上は大しけで、吹雪のため視界も悪かったらしい。機関室に浸水したが、金沢海上保安部などが午前１０時１０分、中国籍の乗組員１９人全員を救出した。けが人はなかった。

　同保安部によると、事故時、付近は雪が降り、風速１４メートル、波の高さ約４メートルの悪天候で、救助作業は難航。第３管区海上保安本部から派遣された羽田特殊救難隊が縄ばしごをかけて１人ずつ降ろし、ボートで救出した。

　貨物船は中国・大連を出港後、金沢に向かっていた。【宮本翔平、宮嶋梓帆】

金沢区のふ頭で貨物船が浸水/横浜 01/22/11 (カナコロ)

　22日午前11時40分ごろ、川崎市川崎区千鳥町の市営ふ頭３号岸壁で、着岸中のベリーズ船籍貨物船「ＷＩＮ　ＬＯＮＧ」（１５３５トン）の貨物倉から出火、金属スクラップ約10立方メートルを焼いた。川崎海上保安署などが原因を調べている。

　同署によると、出火当時はクレーンで金属スクラップ１千トンを積む荷役作業中。中国人乗組員11人は船内の居住スペースにいたが、けがはなかったという。

宮崎の座礁撤去会社が水没謝罪（01/22/11）（読売新聞）

　宮崎市折生迫(おりうざこ)の浅瀬に座礁していたポンプしゅんせつ船が、撤去作業中に水没した問題で、韓国の海運会社「コリア・サルベージ」が２１日、市内で関係者向けに説明会を開いた。同社は「再び撤去作業を始まるまでに最低１か月の準備が必要」との見通しを示した。

　宮崎海上保安署や地元の漁業関係者ら約２０人が出席。同社の柳燦烈社長が謝罪し、参加者からは被害の拡大防止を求める声などが相次いだ。

　同社によると、浮力を回復させるために２０日、船内の排水作業を行っていたが、予想以上の浮力が得られて船が沖合に滑り出した。このため約２００メートル沖合にえい航したところ、浸水して傾き、バランスを崩して水没したという。船底の穴が岩場に当たって広がった可能性があるという。

　宮崎海保によると、船内から微量の油が流れ出したことから、２１日に吸着マットを使って回収した。

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁：撤去また中止　作業中に傾き浸水　／宮崎（01/22/11）（毎日新聞　地方版）

　昨年１０月から宮崎市折生迫の鬼の洗濯板に座礁したままのベリーズ船籍のしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）は、２０日の離岸・撤去作業中に船体が傾き沈んだため作業は再び中止された。この際、微量の油が漏れたためオイルフェンスを設置した。今後の作業日程は未定で、韓国のサルベージ会社は２１日に漁業関係者に説明会を開いた。

　宮崎海上保安部などによると、２０日午後５時ごろに離岸・撤去作業に着手。船を東に約２００メートルえい航したところで船体が傾いて浸水し、大部分が水深約１０メートルの海底に沈んだという。

しゅんせつ船の撤去作業に失敗（01/21/11）（MRT 宮崎放送）

宮崎市の鬼の洗濯板に座礁したしゅんせつ船の撤去作業が失敗しました。

座礁したしゅんせつ船は、２０日の撤去作業で、約２００メートル動きましたが、船体が左に傾き甲板部分まで水没。

船が、岩場などにぶつかったことで海水が船内に入り込み、浮力が失われたのが原因とみられています。

２１日は、撤去作業を行っている韓国のサルベージ会社が、関係機関を対象に説明会を開き謝罪しました。

（韓国サルベージ会社の代理人）「離礁できなかったことにつきましては、深くお詫び申し上げます。」

去年１０月に、宮崎市の鬼の洗濯板に座礁したしゅんせつ船。

今回の撤去作業は、海面が高くなる大潮にあわせ、１９日から行われていましたが、結局、失敗しました。

さらに、今回の作業の影響で、船内に付着していた油などが流出したため、今後、オイルフェンスを設置して新たな油の流出に備えるということです。

（宮崎海上保安部・若松義久次長）「漁業者の操業の場所でもあるので、漁業被害も出てくる、航行上の問題も出てくる、とにかく早く撤去してくださいと願いしている。」

サルベージ会社は「船主の意向を聞いて今後の作業方法などを決めたい」としていて、しゅんせつ船の撤去には、さらに時間がかかる見通しとなりました。

座礁船　離礁できず　宮崎市（01/20/11）（西日本新聞朝刊）

　宮崎市折生迫の観光名所「鬼の洗濯板」で、昨年１０月から中国の会社が所有するポンプしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）が座礁している問題で、サルベージ会社による離礁作業が１９日始まった。作業は計画通りに進まず、２０日以降も続けられることになった。

　サルベージ会社によると、この日は船内から水を抜き取って浮上させてえい航する計画だった。朝夕の満潮時にそれぞれ撤去を試みたが、船体前部が岩に引っ掛かって離礁することはできなかった。今後、船体がバランス良く浮上できるように排水と注水を行い、２１日朝の満潮時に再びえい航を試みるという。

　作業を見つめていた宮崎市漁協の日高昭彦理事は「現場付近はイセエビの漁場。とにかく計画倒れになって、船を放置するのだけは避けてほしい」と話していた。

鬼の洗濯板 座礁船撤去できず（01/20/11）（NHK宮崎県のニュース）

去年１０月、宮崎市の観光地「鬼の洗濯板」で座礁したしゅんせつ船を現場から撤去する作業が１９日始まりましたが、あさと夕方の満潮時刻に船体を浮かせることができませんでした。

座礁現場での撤去作業は、漁協関係者が見守る中、夕方の満潮時刻の午後５時ごろから行われ、サルベージ会社が２隻の作業船と３０人の態勢で船体を浮かせる作業を行いました。

サルベージ会社によりますと、船体が傾いたままで計画通り浮かせることができなかったため、作業を中止し、この日の問題点を検証した上で２０日以降作業をやり直すことになりました。

この事故は、去年１０月、宮崎市の観光地で国の天然記念物になっている岩場、「鬼の洗濯板」に、中国の会社が所有する無人のしゅんせつ船が漂流して座礁したものです。

船会社から依頼を受けた韓国のサルベージ会社が海面が高くなるこの日からの大潮の時期にあわせて撤去作業を始めましたが、朝の満潮時にも船を浮かせることができず、夕方の満潮時刻に再び浅瀬から引き離そうとしていました。

小型タンカー転覆　機関長死亡・船長不明　佐渡沖（01/09/11）（読売新聞）

　９日午前６時１０分ごろ、新潟県佐渡市沖の日本海を航行中のケミカルタンカー青鷹（せいよう＝４９９トン）から、「浸水し、船が傾斜している」と、新潟市の第９管区海上保安本部に通報があった。青鷹はその後、転覆・沈没し、乗組員５人のうち４人が巡視船に救助されたが、このうち機関長の山野英樹さん（４６）＝松江市＝は搬送先の新潟市内の病院で死亡が確認された。船長の佐藤勝利さん（４７）＝同＝は行方不明になっている。

　青鷹は同日午前９時２０分すぎ、佐渡市南西部の沢崎鼻灯台南西沖１４．８キロ付近で沈没した。救助された甲板長の小松信行さん（４９）＝青森県八戸市＝と一等機関士の八木勉さん（６０）＝宮城県石巻市＝は低体温症で衰弱状態となり、一等航海士の上園智博さん（２９）＝鹿児島県枕崎市＝も顔などに軽いけがをした。

　青鷹は、東京都江東区の物流会社「エスワイプロモーション」の所有で、大分港から液体の化学原料の酢酸ビニルモノマー１千トンを積んで新潟東港に向かっていた。新潟県は「仮に海に漏れ出した場合も、分解されやすいため、環境への影響はほとんどないと考えられる」と説明している。

　同社によると、午前６時２０分ごろ、佐藤船長から携帯電話を通じて「しけの中を走っている。エンジンがストップした。今のままなら、大波を受けて転覆するおそれがある」とあわてた声で連絡があったという。

　海保は巡視船２隻とヘリコプター２機、航空機１機を現場海域に派遣。救命胴衣を着けた状態で海に投げ出され、漂流していた４人を巡視船が救助したという。

　乗組員５人はいずれも神戸市に本社を持つ内航海運会社「六青和（ろくせいわ）シッピング」の横浜営業所（横浜市中区）に所属している。

　同海上保安本部によると、現場海域では事故当時、西南西の風が１０メートル、波の高さは４メートルだった。新潟地方気象台は同日午前５時３５分、佐渡沖では最大約１５メートルの風が予想されるとして海上風警報を発令していた。

佐渡沖でタンカー沈没…機関長死亡、船長不明（01/09/11）（読売新聞）

　９日午前６時１０分頃、新潟県佐渡島の南西約１４・５キロの海上で、東京都江東区の運送会社「エスワイプロモーション」が所有する小型タンカー「青鷹(せいよう)」（全長６４・８メートル、４９９トン）の乗組員から、「船が浸水して傾斜している」と第９管区海上保安本部（新潟市）に通報があった。

　新潟海上保安部によると、タンカーは同７時４０分頃に転覆し、同保安部の巡視船とヘリコプターなどが、漂流していた乗組員男性４人を救助したが、機関長の山野英樹さん（４６）（松江市）が収容先の新潟市の病院で死亡。佐藤勝利船長（４７）（同）の行方が分からなくなっている。タンカーは同９時２０分頃に沈没した。国土交通省運輸安全委員会は同日、調査官２人を新潟市に派遣した。

　山野さんの死因は水死。救助された１等機関士八木勉さん（６０）（宮城県石巻市）は低体温症で衰弱状態となり、１等航海士上園智博さん（２９）（鹿児島県枕崎市）、甲板長小松信行さん（４９）（青森県八戸市）も軽いけがを負った。

　タンカー所有会社によると、乗組員５人は海運業「六青和シッピング」（神戸市）の社員。工業用原料の酢酸ビニールモノマー１０００トンを積んで、６日午後６時過ぎに大分港を出発し、新潟東港に向けて航行中だった。

　事故当時、現場の風速は約１０メートル、波の高さは約４メートル。新潟地方気象台は、海上風警報を発令していた。

プサン沖停泊中の貨物船で火災、中国人船員4人死亡（01/07/11）（Jp.xinhuanet.com）

【新華社ソウル1月7日】7日未明、プサン港沖に停泊中のカンボジア船籍の貨物船で火災が発生し、中国人船員8人のうち4人が死亡した。残り4人の中国人船員とミャンマー人船員1人は救出された。プサン駐在中国総領事が7日明らかにした。

関華兵総領事は次のように説明した。在プサン総領事館は7日午前、プサン港沖に停泊中のカンボジア船籍の貨物船「雲星」（音訳＝1412トン）で、同日午前6時50分ころ火災が発生し、多数の中国人船員が乗り込んでいることを知った。事故を重視した総領事館は、直ちに応急マニュアルを発動し、プサン海洋警察庁に事実を確認し、あらゆる必要な措置を講じて中国人船員の救出にあたった。

関総領事によると、総領事の率いる作業グループが善後処置のため、プサン港に向かっているところで、プサンでは救出された中国人船員を見舞う。

警察の調べによると、出火したのは貨物船一階の食堂付近だという。

4 deaths in a ship flying Cambodia flag of convenience
4 Chinese killed in cargo ship fire off S.Korean coast: Chinese consular officials（01/07/11）（Xinhua Allvoices.com）
Four Chinese were killed in a fire on a Cambodia-flagged cargo ship off South Korea's southeastern coast, Chinese consular officials told Xinhua Friday.

The fire broke out on the ship at around 6:50 a.m. Friday (2150 GMT Thursday) when the 1,412-ton Yunxing was anchoring in Busan port, South Korea's largest port located in the southeastern coast, consular officials said.

There are a total of nine crew members, including eight Chinese and one Myanma, aboard the ship when the accident took place. Four Chinese crew members, including the captain, were killed, and other five people were rescued.

Preliminary investigation showed the fire, likely caused by a short circuit, started in the dining room on the first floor of the ship, local police said, adding that they will make further investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Cargo ship fire kills four Chinese off S. Korea（01/07/11）（Yahoo!News）

SEOUL (AFP) – Four Chinese sailors died Friday after a fire gutted a Cambodia-flagged cargo ship off South Korea's southern port of Busan, coast guard officials said.

The coast guard said the 1,400-ton Yunxing with eight Chinese and one from Myanmar aboard caught fire early Friday, two nautical miles from Busan.

Four Chinese died and the rest of the crew was pulled to safety, a Busan coast guard spokeswoman told AFP.

The blaze was put off in about two hours but heavy smoke delayed a rescue operation.

Coast guard officials suspect the blaze might have been caused by a short circuit, Yonhap news agency said, adding there was no cargo aboard.

One rescued sailor told investigators that the fire had started around the first floor kitchen, Yonhap said.

Coast guard officials believe that smoke had hampered a quick evacuation of the sailors who were sleeping at the time of the fire. The bodies were found in the first floor kitchen and a second floor cabin.

座礁貨物船の移動完了　小名浜港に着岸、点検調査（01/01/11）（福島民報）

　いわき市の海岸に座礁したパナマ船籍の貨物船は３１日午前零時５分、２隻の大型タグボートに引かれ沖合に移動、同９時４０分に同市の小名浜港藤原埠頭（ふとう）１号岸壁に着岸した。

　作業は同日午前１時５６分の満潮に向けて午前零時に再開された。タグボート２隻がロープで左右から引き、浜辺から離脱させた。

　藤原埠頭ではサルベージ会社の船体点検調査などを受けた。１日は国土交通省東北運輸局福島運輸支局が船舶を検査する予定。

【写真】貨物船の着岸作業に当たる関係者＝藤原埠頭、３１日午前９時２５分ごろ

移動作業が終了　いわきの座礁貨物船（01/01/11）（福島民友ニュース）

　いわき市で座礁したパナマ船籍の貨物船「シーエース」（２９７６トン）は３１日午前０時５分ごろ、タグボートで浅瀬から引き出され沖合に移動、同日朝に小名浜港に入った。

　福島海上保安部によると、サルベージ会社「深田サルベージ建設」がタグボート２隻でけん引作業し、離礁に成功した。貨物船はタグボートにえい航され沖で待機。同日午前９時ごろに小名浜港藤原埠頭（ふとう）１号岸壁に着岸した。油漏れなどはないという。

　同保安部によると、同社による船体の安全確認が終わり次第、同保安部や福島運輸支局が、船体の異常の有無や航行可能かどうかを点検する。同保安部は引き続き、座礁した原因を調べる。貨物船は２２日に同市の鮫川河口付近で浅瀬に乗り揚げて座礁した。

いわき・座礁貨物船が無事移動（12月31日）（福島中央テレビ）

いわき市の海岸に座礁していた貨物船の移動は作業開始から４日目のきょうようやく完了しけさ小名浜港に入港しました。

けさ９時過ぎ、タグボートに牽引されて小名浜港に入港したのはパナマ船籍の貨物船、「ＳＥＡ（しー）ＡＣＥ（えーす）」です。

この貨物船は先週２２日、いわき市錦町（にしきまち）の海岸に座礁し今月２８日から、サルベージ会社が、朝や深夜の満潮時にあわせ、タグボートで引っ張っるなどして何度も移動を試みてきました。

しかしロープが切れるなどして作業は度々中断。

砂に埋まっていた船をようやく動かすことができたのはきょう午前０時過ぎでした。

今後は東北運輸局が小名浜港で船体に損傷が無いか点検する予定ですがいまのところ、油漏れなどの異常はないということです。

千葉、パナマ貨物船乗り上げ 千葉海上保安部（12/30/10）（ちばとぴ）

　２９日午前８時半ごろ、千葉市中央区川崎町のＪＦＥスチール東日本の岸壁を出港したパナマ船籍の貨物船ジョン・フイ号（２９６２トン）が浅瀬に乗り上げた。船長や中国人乗組員１３人にけがはなかった。浸水、油流出もなく、同１１時２０分ごろ、タグボートで引き出した。

　千葉海上保安部は、同船が君津へ向けて出港、回船が大回りになり対岸に乗り上げた操船ミスとみて、乗組員から事情を聴き、船底を調べている。乗り上げは代理店から通報があった。

座礁船の移動開始　ロープ切れ中断（12月29日）（福島民報）

　福島県いわき市のパナマ船籍貨物船座礁事故で、船体の移動作業が２８日始まったが、船を引き出すためのロープが切れ、中断した。再開は未定。船体は安定しているという。

　移動作業は午前６時半すぎから開始。サルベージ会社が手配した大型タグボート２隻が座礁船の船首に取り付けたロープを引くと、船は沖に向けて徐々に動きだした。しかし、船体の浮力が利用できる満潮を過ぎても浜辺から離脱できず、同１０時すぎにいったん中断。午後７時前からタグボート１隻を追加し計３隻で再開したところ、船は沖の方角に一気に向きを変えた。

　ところが沖合に引き出そうとした午後８時４０分ごろロープが突然切れ、再度の中断を余儀なくされた。

　２７日深夜の段階では、２８日は作業しない方針だったが当日早朝に急きょ実施が決まった。

【写真】沖合に向かって大きく動いた貨物船。右の光はタグボート＝２８日午後７時５分ごろ

座礁船移動作業始まる（12月28日）（TUFテレビユー福島）

今月２２日暴風雨のためいわき市の海岸で座礁した貨物船を沖に移動させる作業がけさから行われましたが潮が引いたため作業は一時中断しています。 移動作業が行われたのはパナマ船籍の貨物船「シーエース」で今月２２日に暴風雨のためいわき市の海岸で座礁しました。 乗組員にけがは無く全員無事に救助されています。移動作業は、満潮に合わせてけさ６時半から始められサルベージ会社の２隻のタグボードが 貨物船の船首部分にロープを掛け船を少しずつ引き出していました。しかし、作業が思うように進まず満潮のときに貨物船を沖まで引き出だす事が できませんでした。移動作業は午前１０時過ぎに一旦中断し潮の状態を見ながら再開するということです。

Korean ferry sank in Yellow sea（Dec. 28, 2010）（Sea News）

South Korea's Coast Guard said Sunday that it rescued all 15 crew and passengers from a ferry ship that sank off the southwestern coast.

SINAN, South Jeolla Province -- South Korea's Coast Guard said Sunday that it rescued all 15 crew and passengers from a ferry ship that sank off the southwestern coast during unfavorable weather conditions.

Authorities in Sinan County, 410 kilometers south of Seoul, said one of its cutters successfully picked up people from the stricken ferry that had capsized after chains securing vehicles onboard broke in 4-meter-high waves on Dec 26 2010. It said when the 3,000-ton cutter arrived on the scene, the 495-ton ferry had capsized. Seven of its passengers were already in the water, with the rest huddling on the upturned vessel. The ferry started to sink in waters 12.8 kilometers south of Manjae Island in the Yellow Sea. The captain of the ferry radioed for help after his ship started to develop a 30 degree list. The Coast Guard cutter, which was operating in nearby waters to catch possible illegal fishing activities by Chinese boats, picked up the distress call.

The Coast Guard ship traveled at a maximum of 29 knots to reach the sinking ship 40 minutes after getting the message, and lowered its two zodiac boats that quickly rescued all the passengers and crew. The people rescued from the water, including some teachers, suffered from mild cases of hypothermia but none required emergency medical assistance and were taken to Mokpo harbor in good health. The Coast Guard said that the ferry, which regularly operates from Gageo Island and Mokpo, was permitted to carry both cargo and passengers and should not have sunk despite the adverse weather conditions.

韓国も「柳腰」？中国漁船員引き渡しで憂慮も 12/25/10（読売新聞）

　【ソウル＝前田泰広】中国漁船が韓国警備艦に衝突した事件をめぐり、韓国海洋警察庁が２５日、特殊公務執行妨害容疑で書類送検した中国人漁船員３人を中国側に引き渡したのは、韓国政府が対中関係を悪化させないよう配慮した結果だ。

　ただ、関係者からは「良くない前例になる」と憂慮する意見も出ている。

　引き渡しで捜査は事実上終結した。同庁は「３人が衝突に関与した度合いは低かった」と説明している。正規の司法手続きを踏んだ上で起訴しない判断を下したと強調する狙いとみられる。

　ただ、違法操業する中国漁船の取り締まりが十分に行えなくなるなど、今後の悪影響も懸念されている。聯合ニュースによると、今回の事件を担当した群山(クンサン)海洋警察署の関係者は「今後、どう取り締まりを行えというのか。強い処罰があってこそ、中国船員の暴力を減らすことができるのに」と指摘している。「こうした事案は外交的な判断ではなく、法に従い処理すべきだ」と話す関係者もいる。

韓国警備艦衝突、中国人漁船員３人不起訴の公算 12/25/10（読売新聞）

　【ソウル＝竹腰雅彦、仲川高志】中国漁船が黄海で取り締まり中の韓国海洋警察庁の警備艦に衝突、沈没した事件で、同庁は２４日、身柄を確保した中国人漁船員３人について特殊公務執行妨害容疑で検察に書類送検した。

　聯合ニュースは、当局は不起訴処分とする方針を固めたと報じており、韓国政府は、外交への影響に配慮し、早期決着を図る方針とみられる。

　海洋警察当局は今月１８日の事件後、中国漁船側の違法操業や衝突の経緯について漁船員らに任意で事情聴取してきたが、２４日、漁船が警備艦に意図的に衝突した疑いが強まったとして、容疑者としての捜査に切り替えた。だが、同ニュースによると、韓国政府高官は同日、「早期かつ円満に終結させることで両国の認識が一致した」とし、「船員の送還問題など事後処理を中国側と協議する」と発言。この方針が海洋警察庁に伝達されたという。

中国漁船衝突事件、公務執行妨害容疑で船員ら立件 12/24/10（聯合ニュース）

【群山24日聯合ニュース】黄海で発生した中国漁船と韓国海洋警察警備艇の衝突事件を調査した群山海洋警察署は24日、違法操業を取り締まり中の警備艇に故意に突っ込んだ中国漁船の船員3人を特殊公務執行妨害容疑で立件し、取り調べていると明らかにした。

　立件とは、違法事項に対する法律的検討過程を経て容疑が客観的に明らかになり、捜査を継続する必要があると判断される場合、正式に事件を調べる段階。参考人だった身分が「被疑者」に変わる。

　特殊公務執行妨害の罪は、公務員にけがを負わせれば3年以上の有期懲役、死亡させた場合は無期または5年以上の有期懲役に処するよう規定されている。

　群山海洋警察によると、船員らは18日の午後12時53分ごろ、取り締まりのため出動した海洋警備艇に故意に突っ込み、衝突を起こした疑い。船員らは警察の調べに対し、追跡されていた自国の漁船を守ろうと警備艇の進路を妨害し、故意に衝突したと供述した。群山海洋警察は近く、3人に対する拘束令状を申請するかどうか決める方針だが、衝突直後に死亡した船長に対しては、検察が「公訴権なし」の処分を下すとみられる。

　群山海洋警察関係者は、19日午後から本格的な調査に入ったが、政治的に敏感な事案である上、分析する資料が多く、捜査が長引いていると説明した。そのうえで、違法行為が明らかになっただけに、できるだけ早く事件を処理するとの方針を示した。

　この事件は18日に全羅北道・沃島面の北西沖116キロの海上で発生。取り締まり中の韓国警備艇に中国漁船が体当たりして転覆し、中国側船員1人が死亡、1人が行方不明になっている。また、取り締まりの過程で漁船に乗り込もうとした韓国の海洋警察官4人が、船員らの振り回す鉄パイプなどで負傷した。ただ、韓国警察官に暴行を加えた漁船は中国領海に逃走したため、事実上捜査が難しいとみられる。

荒天でパナマ船籍の貨物船が座礁 12/23/10（福島民友ニュース）

　発達中の低気圧による荒天のため、いわき市の小名浜港沖に待機していたパナマ船籍の貨物船が２２日、同港の沖の防波堤西灯台から西に約６．４キロ付近の鮫川河口まで流され、浅瀬に座礁した。ミャンマー人の船長を含む乗組員１５人は全員救出された。けが人や油の流出、船体への浸水もなかった。福島海上保安部などが船長らから詳しく事情を聴いている。同河口付近の近海はアワビ、ホッキ貝の漁場で、県や市、漁業関係者は緊急会議を開き、万一の燃油流出に備えた通報体制づくりを確認した。

　２２日午前９時４０分ごろ、貨物船シーエース（２９７６トン）から、いわき市錦町の鮫川河口付近で「浜辺に乗り揚げた」と第２管区海上保安部（宮城県塩釜市）に連絡が入った。

　同保安部などによると、同船は同日、石巻港（宮城県）から君津港（千葉県）に向かう途中で、同日午前４時ごろ、小名浜港沖への緊急入域の申請があったという。現場周辺は当時、波の高さ約１．５メートルで、最大瞬間風速２３メートルと非常に強い風が吹いていた。

　同日午後２時１５分ごろから、海上保安庁特殊救難隊がヘリコプターで乗組員を一人ずつつり上げ、約４０分後に中国人１１人とミャンマー人４人を救助した。

　同保安部は、積み荷が空だったことで船体が浮いて風を受ける面積が増えたため、強風で流されたとみている。

　同保安部は、早急に船体の引き下ろし作業に取りかかるよう、実質的な所有者である船舶代理店を指導している。

　今後は、天候の回復をみて現場検証を行うとともに、引き続き乗組員への聞き取りを行う。

海上保安部が座礁した船を調査 12/23/10（NHK）

２２日、いわき市の海岸の浅瀬で座礁したパナマ船籍の貨物船について、きょう海上保安部などが調査し油の流出や浸水などは確認されませんでしたが海上保安部は貨物船の所有者側に早く船を移動するよう指導しています。

２２日、強い風が吹く中、航行中のパナマ船籍の貨物船、「シーエース」が（２９７６トン）いわき市錦町の海岸からおよそ１００メートルの沖合の浅瀬に乗り上げて座礁しました。

貨物船は現場に置かれたままになっていて宮城海上保安部の潜水士３人が貨物船に乗り込み、燃料タンクから油が流れだす心配がないかなど貨物船の状況を調べました。福島海上保安部によりますと、貨物船は砂の上に乗り上げているものの安定した状態で目立った損傷はなく、浸水や油の流出などは確認されていないということです。しかし、燃料タンクには油が残っていることから２次災害を防ぐためにも貨物船の所有者に対してできるだけ早く船を移動するよう指導しています。

また、国の運輸安全委員会も原因を究明するためにきょう船の状況を調査し、今後、乗組員からも事情を聞くことにしています。

パナマ船籍貨物船、福島県沖で座礁 12/22/10（読売新聞）

　２２日午前９時４０分頃、福島県いわき市の鮫川河口付近で、パナマ船籍の貨物船「シーエース」（２９７６トン）が座礁したと、福島海上保安部に連絡が入った。

　同海保の発表によると、貨物船は浅瀬に乗り上げたが、中国人とミャンマー人の乗組員１５人にけが人はないという。積み荷はなかった。貨物船は宮城県・石巻港から千葉県・君津港に向けて航行中、荒天を避けるためにいわき市沖で停泊していたが、強風で流されたとみられる。同海保などは巡視船とヘリコプターを出動させて、乗組員救出の準備作業を進めている。

　福島地方気象台によると、いわき市小名浜では午前９時過ぎ、最大瞬間風速２３・０メートルを記録。事故当時、現場は大しけだったという。

漁船沈没事件きっかけに　中国ネットで「嫌韓」高まる 12/22/10（J-CASTニュース）

黄海で中国漁船が韓国海洋警察の警備艇に衝突し、中国側乗組員に死者・行方不明者が出た事件で、中国側は記者会見で、韓国側に損害賠償を求めることを明らかにした。これに対して、韓国マスコミは「逆切れ」などと反発。一方、中国のポータルサイトでは、韓国批判が高まりつつある。

韓国側の発表によると、2010年12月18日、韓国の経済的排他水域（EEZ）内で違法操業していた中国漁船団を韓国の海洋警察が追跡し、漁船団の後方にいた木造漁船に接近。漁船の乗組員が鉄パイプやシャベルを振り回して抵抗し、海洋警察官4人が骨折するなどして負傷した。

中国側の損害に対して賠償を求める

さらに、別の中国の木造漁船が、警備艇の進路を妨害しようとして警備艇の船首に衝突。漁船はこの勢いで沈没し、漁船の乗組員10人が船に転落。中韓双方が救助活動を行ったが、1人が死亡、1人が行方不明になっている。

韓国側は、死者が出たことに対して遺憾の意を表明したものの、中国側は反発した。中国外務省の姜瑜副報道局長は12月21日の定例会見で、

「事件に対して重大な懸念を表明する。韓国側には、行方不明になっている乗員を全力で捜索し、加害者を処罰し、中国側の損害に対して賠償し、再発防止に向けた具体的な取り組みを行うように求めている」 と要求。

「中国漁船は、韓国の水域で、韓国海洋警察の警備艇にぶつかったのではないか」 という質問には、
「事件は『中韓漁業協定』に基づいた水域で発生した。両国の漁船は、この水域で操業することができる。両国は、それぞれに国の漁船を管理し、どちらかの国が、もうひとつの国に対して違法操業について通報する権利はあるが、相手方の船に対して法律を執行することはできない」 と、韓国側の対応に異を唱えた。

これに対して、韓国側メディアは、「中国逆切れ」（朝鮮日報）「無礼な中国」（中央日報）といっせいに批判。ニュース記事のコメント欄では、

「もっと軍事力を強化しないとだめだ」 「中華思想の国からすれば、周りの国は、みんな敵国だ」 などといった書き込みが目立つ。

中国がベトナム漁船を拿捕、漁師９人拘束　西沙諸島周辺で 10/07/10（産経新聞）

　５日の国営ベトナム通信によると、南シナ海の西沙（英語名パラセル）諸島周辺で９月１１日、ベトナムの漁船が中国当局に拿捕（だほ）され、漁師９人が拘束される事件があり、ベトナム外務省は中国側に即時、無条件の解放を要求した。

　西沙諸島は中国が実効支配し、両国が領有権を争っている。同省は、同諸島に対するベトナムの主権を主張した上で解放を要求したという。

　拘束されたのはいずれもベトナム中部クアンガイ省の漁師。西沙諸島周辺では中国によるベトナム漁船の拿捕が多発。ベトナム紙によると、２００５年以降、３０隻以上が拿捕され、拘束された漁師は４００人以上に上る。

　中国は西沙諸島海域に漁業監視船を常駐させるため、４００トン級の大型船舶の建造を始めている。（共同）

中国、拘束のベトナム漁船員９人を解放　南シナ海で拿捕 10/11/10（産経新聞）

　【ハノイ＝塚本和人、峯村健司】中国とベトナムなどが領有権を争う南シナ海の西沙（パラセル）諸島の周辺海域で中国当局に拿捕（だほ）され、拘束されていたベトナム漁船の船員９人が１０日に解放されたことがわかった。ベトナムのタイン国防相が１１日、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）国防相会議が行われたハノイで記者団に明らかにした。

　ハノイでは１２日にＡＳＥＡＮ１０カ国と日中米ロなど８カ国の国防相が初めて集まる拡大国防相会議が開かれる予定。中国としては会議を前に、経済面での結びつきを強める議長国ベトナムやＡＳＥＡＮ諸国との摩擦要因を取り除いた形だ。タイン氏は「中国側は人道的な姿勢を示している」と歓迎した。

　また、ベトナムメディアによると、タイン氏は１０日、ハノイを訪問中の中国の梁光烈国防相と会談。海上合同パトロールなどについて協議した。

　この事件をめぐっては、９月１１日の発生直後から両国政府が外交ルートを通じて交渉を続けてきた。中国側が罰金の支払いを求める一方、ベトナム側は主権を主張したうえで即時無条件の解放を要求するなど緊張が高まっていた。

　タイン氏は、双方の漁船とも相手側の主張する海域に入って操業することは避けられないとの認識を示し、「両国海軍の間には共同パトロールのメカニズムがある。これは安全を維持し、漁師の操業にも有益となる」と述べ、協力強化の重要性を指摘した。

　ただ、中国は南シナ海で強硬姿勢を強めており、１０日付の中国共産党機関紙、人民日報によると、中国国家海洋局の孫志輝局長が海洋権益保護などのため海上での監視を強め、取り締まりに力を入れる考えを明らかにした。巡視活動の定期化や範囲の拡大にも努めていくとされ、両国の緊張は今後高まるとの見方も出ている。

中国：武装艦で威嚇「拿捕の漁船解放せよ」　一触即発の海 07/27/10（毎日新聞）

6月23日、インドネシア領ナトゥナ諸島のラウト島から北西57カイリ(約105キロ)の海域で、中国の大型漁業監視船とインドネシア海軍艦との間に「交戦」の緊張が走りました。

前日に同じ海域で10隻以上の中国漁船団が操業したのが発端で、一旦はインドネシア警備艇がそのうちの1隻を拿捕。しかし、軍艦を改造した中国の大型漁業監視船が大口径の機銃を向け、ファイバー製の警備艇はやむなく拿捕漁船を開放。5月15日にも同様のケースが発生し、「武装護衛艦付きの違法操業はこれが初めて」（インドネシア政府当局者）。

台湾の海軍関係者は「ナトゥナの北に豊かな海底油田がある」と、中国の狙いが地下資源獲得である可能性を示唆。中国との経済関係などを優先してインドネシア側は事件を一切公表していませんが、ユドヨノ大統領が今月22日の閣議で「南シナ海に新たな緊張がある。ナトゥナ諸島はこの海域に近い」と懸念を示しています。

漁船沈没、中国が韓国に処罰・賠償要求 11/27/10（読売新聞）

　【北京＝大木聖馬】中国外務省の姜瑜(きょうゆ)副報道局長は２１日、韓国沖で中国漁船が韓国警備艦に衝突し沈没した事件について、「行方不明となっている船員の捜索、事件を引き起こした張本人への厳罰、中国側の人的、物的損失に対する賠償を（韓国側に）要求した」と述べた。

　中国が同事件で公式見解を示すのは初めて。

　姜副局長はまた、「すでに韓国に対して厳正な申し入れを行った」と語った。

　さらに、「中韓両国の漁業協定に基づき、両国の漁船は当該水域に入って作業することができる」と述べ、中国漁船は不法操業していないとの認識を強調。「相手国の漁船の違法行為を相互に通報することになっているが、相手国の漁船に乗り込んで法執行する権利はない」とし、中国漁船に乗り込もうとした韓国側の行為を批判した。

韓国、中国漁船特別取り締まり…体当たり事件で 12/20/10（読売新聞）

　【ソウル＝仲川高志】韓国海洋警察庁は２０日から、韓国沖の黄海で中国漁船が同庁の警備艦に体当たりし、沈没した１８日の事件を受け、韓国の排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内での中国漁船の特別取り締まりを実施する。

　聯合ニュースが１９日報じた。警備艦艇１８隻、ヘリコプター２機を動員するという。

　また、聯合電によると、同庁は１９日、今回事件で身柄を確保した漁船員３人を群山(クンサン)海洋警察署に移送し、本格的な取り調べを始めた。

　一方、中国の主要紙や国営・新華社通信は１９日までに同事件について報じていない。中国当局が、事件をめぐり国内の反韓国世論が強まるのを抑えようと配慮している可能性がある。

MV Hong Wei, Nickel Ore Carrier Sinks, 10 Sailors Missing 12/04/10（The Old Salt Blog）
The MV Hong Wei with a cargo of 40,000 tons of nickel ore, sank Saturday off the northern Philippines. Fourteen crew were rescued and ten remain missing. The ship was Panamanian flag and had a Chinese crew. The Hong Wei is the second bulker carrying nickel ore to sink in the Pacific in the last month. On November 11th, the Nasco Diamond loaded with 55,000 tonnes of nickel ore from Indonesia to China sank off the southern coast of Japan.

10 Chinese sailors missing, 14 rescued after cargo ship sinks

TEN CHINESE CREW STILL MISSING 12/06/10（United Filipino Seafarers）
The Coast Guard Action center received information from LT Reimond M Santos PCG Command Pilot of PCG Islander 251, that after conducting aerial search today (December 04, 2010) in the vicinity of the reported location of the sinking site of M/V Hong Wei, no additional survivors were sighted. Said aircraft returned to Basco, Batanes and will resume aerial search for the still missing ten (10) crew of M/V Hong Wei tomorrow morning.

Likewise, efforts of SARV-002 which is also conducting surface search for said missing crew within waters of Northern Luzon also yielded negative result. In coordination with the Taiwan Coast Guard (TCG), accounting of crew of the ill-fated M/V Hong Wei remains at fourteen (14) survivors and ten (10) still missing. Two (2) of said survivors are in the custody of the TCG after they were rescued from sea by a TCG helicopter. While the other twelve (12) survivors are still on board a passing Chinese cargo vessel, M/V Shun Tong, after they were rescued at sea.

The PCG Communications center continue to broadcast through NAVTEX NOTAM to inform passing vessels of the said maritime incident and further requesting them to render assistance to possible survivors or victims of the incident. M/V Shun Tong is enroute to China where the twelve (12) crew survivors will be disembarked. PCG Islander 251 will resume its aerial reconnaissance tomorrow, December 05 2010 to search for the missing crew of M/V Hong Wei.

Likewise, said aircraft with PCG Basco Station Marine Environment Protection personnel will conduct survey/check on the reported sightings of oil slick near the vicinity of the sinking site of said vessel as reported by TECO.

Sometime on 03 December 2010, said Panamanian cargo vessel sank at Latitude 20 degrees 22.4 mins North, Long 119 degrees 47.0 mins East or at vicinity 120 NM SW of Itbayat Island. Particulars of M/V Hong Wei are as follows:

A. Type of vessel: Cargo vessel (Bulk Carrier)

B. Vessel Registry: Panama

C. Year Built: 2001

D. Classification Society: Nippon Kaiji Kyo Kai (NKK)

E. Owner/Shipping Company: Golden Bright Shipping Company

F. Shipping Management: Fuzhou Xinjiahong Shipping Co. LTD.

G. IMO No: 9200139

H. GT: 27,996

I. Deadweight: 50,149

J. Length over all: 181.9 meters

K. Next Port of call: Shan Tong, China

L. Nr of crew: 24

M. Survivors: 14

N. Missing: 10

Progress report to follow.

3 die as freighter sinks in E China 11/25/10（PRESS TV）
Three crew members have lost their lives while nine others are still missing after a freighter sank off the coast of Zhejiang Province in eastern China.

The freighter, carrying scrap iron, submerged Thursday morning in waters off the Zhoushan island on the East China Sea. Only three of the fifteen crew members have been rescued so far, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The freighter, named Huiying 168, was registered in the northern Tianjin municipality. It was operated by Tianjin Pacific Shipping Company.

Two weeks ago, one seaman was killed and 20 others were reported missing after a cargo ship with 25 Chinese crew members on board sank off Japan's southern islands.

The Panama-registered ship went missing some 340 kilometers (210 miles) south of Iriomote island in the Pacific Ocean early on October 10, The China Post newspaper reported.

The 17,000-ton Nasco Diamond departed Indonesia on November 4 and was heading towards China. The vessel was carrying 55,000 tones of nickel.

It was not clear what caused the ship to sink, as weather conditions in the area were calm with moderate wind, good visibility and no rain.

In October, another sailor died when a Panama-registered freighter capsized in rough seas off Taiwan on its way from Indonesia to China's eastern Shandong province.

パナマ籍貨物船が沈没、中国人乗員２人死亡　西表島沖 11/11/10（読売新聞）

　沖縄県西表島の南方沖の公海上でパナマ籍貨物船「Ｎａｓｃｏ　Ｄｉａｍｏｎｄ」（１万７千トン）が行方不明になった、と第１１管区海上保安本部（那覇市）に１０日、台湾当局から連絡があり、捜索していた１１管は１１日、乗員の中国人２５人のうち、３人を海上で救助し、２人の死亡を確認したと発表した。１１管と自衛隊、台湾当局は１２日以降も残る２０人の捜索を続ける。

　台湾当局からの連絡によると、９日正午ごろに船が傾き始めたと船主に通報があり、同日午後７時ごろ、西表島の南３４０キロの公海上で連絡が途絶えた。生存を確認した３人は、救命胴衣をつけて漂流していた。生存者の１人は「機関室に浸水があり、船は５分もたたずに沈没した」と説明しているという。

Bulk carrier disappeared in Philippines sea with 25 crew 11/10/10（MARITIME bULLETIN）
Bulk carrier NASCO Diamond disappeared in Philippines sea, search started, all vessels warned to look for any traces. Last known position 21-05N 123-50E, last AIS signal dated Oct 15 2010, last port of call Lianyungang, bulker left port on Oct 10. Crew 25, all Chinese. NASCO Diamond IMO 9467861, dwt 57000, built 2009, flag Panama, owner Nanjing Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd.

パナマ船籍の「NASCO Diamond」

「NASCO Diamond」が沈没したとされる位置

One dead as Nasco bulker sinks off Japan 11/10/10（Lloyd's List）
A MODERN supramax owned by one of China’s leading shipowners, Nanjing Ocean Shipping, has sunk with 25 crew on board off Japan’s southern islands, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty reports.

Only five crew members have been accounted for on the 2009-built, 55,000 dwt NASCO Diamond, including one fatality, casualty reports stated.

The vessel left Indonesia on November 4 with a cargo of nickel ore destined for Lianyungang, China according to AIS reports.

The four members of the crew known to have survived have told rescuers that there were calm weather conditions, moderate wind, and good visibility and little rain, the Japanese coastguard has reported.

The vessel was built at the Zhejiang Jingang Shipbuilding. It has been classed by the China Classification Society since January when it transferred from Bureau Veritas. It is entered with the West of England P&I Club.

Nasco operates around 20 vessels according to its website.

Although the cause of the vessel sinking was not immediately clear, its cargo of Indonesian nickel ore is notoriously dangerous due to its high mosture content and the risks of the cargo liquefying and causing a free surface effect that compromises the ship’s stability.

Intercargo and P&I Clubs have published warnings to owners about carrying nickel ore. Shipowners are urged to check moisture content carefully prior to loading.

For example, North P&I warns that shippers’ reports on moisture content should be treated with caution. It says that audits of certificates of moisture content from nickel ore shippers revealed serious deficencies, rendering certified values meaningless.

Additional reporting by Steve Matthews

西表島沖で貨物船不明、１人死亡・１人心肺停止 11/12/10（読売新聞）

　第１１管区海上保安本部（那覇市）によると、沖縄県・西表(いりおもて)島の南約３４０キロの公海上で１０日未明、中国人２５人が乗船していたパナマ船籍の貨物船「Ｎａｓｃｏ　Ｄｉａｍｏｎｄ」（１万７０００トン）が行方不明になった。

　１１管と台湾当局が巡視船や航空機などで付近を捜索し、１１日、救命胴衣を着て漂流していた５人を救助した。うち１人はすでに死亡し、１人は心肺停止状態。３人は体調不良を訴え、同県石垣市の病院に運ばれた。残る２０人は行方不明になっており、１２日以降も捜索を続ける。

　１１管によると、貨物船は、４日にインドネシアの港を出て、中国・江蘇省に向かう途中だった。９日正午頃、船主の中国の会社から台湾当局に「船体が左に傾いている」との通報があり、台湾当局は１１管に捜索協力を要請していた。乗組員が救助された海域には油や救命いかだが浮いており、貨物船は沈没したとみられる。

大型タンカーから重油流出 10/25/10（琉球朝日放送）

24日午後、西原町の石油精製会社に接岸しようとしたタンカーが、桟橋に衝突し、海中に燃料が流出する事故がありました。25日も油の回収作業が続きました。

下地慶信カメラマンは「こちらは西原沖上空です。かなりの広範囲にわたって、黒いオイルが広がっているのが分かります」と話しました。

燃料の流出があったのは、パナマ船籍のタンカーパシフィック・ポラリスです。中城海上保安部などによりますと、24日午後４時半ごろ、西原町にある石油会社内の桟橋に、接岸しようとしたタンカーが桟橋に衝突。その際、タンカーに穴が開き燃料が、桟橋の東端から北東方向におよそ3500メートルに渡って海上に流出したということです。

現在のところ新たな油流出はありませんが現場から、3.6キロ離れた海野漁港に油が漂着したと通報がありました。現場にはまだ多くの燃料が残っていて、26日も引き続き回収作業を行う予定です。

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁：簡裁、インドネシア国籍船長に罰金２０万円　／宮崎 11/06/10（毎日新聞）

　宮崎簡裁は４日、宮崎市折生迫の海岸にしゅんせつ船を座礁させたとして、業務上過失往来危険罪の罪で略式起訴されていたインドネシア国籍の船長（３２）に、罰金２０万円の略式命令を出した。船長は即日納付した。

　起訴状によると、１０月２４日午前０時ごろ、気象条件を確認せずに荒天の中、タグボートでしゅんせつ船をえい航し、漂流、座礁させたとしている。

しゅんせつ船座礁、船長を書類送検 11/01/10（宮崎放送）

宮崎市の鬼の洗濯板に、海底の土砂を掘削するしゅんせつ船が座礁した事故で、宮崎海上保安部は、１日、船をえい航していたタグボートの外国人船長を、書類送検しました。 業務上過失往来危険の疑いで書類送検されたのは、インドネシア国籍の３２歳の男性船長です。この事故は、先月２４日、山口県から中国に向けてタグボートでえい航されていたしゅんせつ船が、 宮崎市の「鬼の洗濯板」に座礁したものです。宮崎海上保安部によりますと、インドネシア人船長は、日向灘沖の気象状況を全く把握しないまま、タグボートに乗ってしゅんせつ船をえい航していた疑いが持たれています。 調べに対し、船長は、容疑を認めているということです。しゅんせつ船の座礁から１週間がたちましたが、宮崎海上保安部によりますと、今のところ船の撤去のめどはたっていないということです。

宮崎・折生迫のしゅんせつ船座礁：船所有、香港の会社－－海保発表　／宮崎 10/27/10（毎日新聞）

　宮崎市折生迫の「鬼の洗濯板」に座礁したしゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）の事故で、宮崎海上保安部は２６日、船はベリーズ船籍で香港の会社所有と発表した。

　同海保によると、２５日に続きこの日も機械室の油が流出し、海上に薄い油膜が確認されたが自然消滅した。また、座礁船の撤去についてサルベージ会社２社がこの日から船体調査を始めた。

「鬼の洗濯板」に？船座礁　地形損傷や油流出に懸念も 10/25/10（朝日新聞）

　２４日午前８時４５分ごろ、宮崎市折生迫の浅瀬に、海の砂利を取るポンプ浚渫（しゅんせつ）船「豊栄」（約６千トン、全長約１００メートル、幅約２０メートル）が座礁した。現場は国の天然記念物「鬼の洗濯板（岩）」が見渡せる観光名所・堀切峠の近くで、船は鬼の洗濯板に乗り上げている可能性が高い。

　宮崎海上保安部によると同日午前０時２０分ごろ、同市の内海港の東約１５キロ沖で浚渫船を引いていたタグボートのロープが荒天で切れ、浚渫船が漂流したとタグボートから通報があった。浚渫船に人は乗っておらず、タグボートの乗員のインドネシア人７人、韓国人３人にけがはなかった。

　浚渫船とタグボートは２２日に山口県の港を出港し、宮崎沖を経由し中国に向かう途中だった。同保安部の巡視船が２４日午前３時半ごろ、船の漂流現場に向かったところ、付近は風速１２メートル、波の高さは約４メートルあったという。

　堀切峠近くで道の駅フェニックスを運営する「フェニックス運営」の吉永征一社長（６８）は「座礁した船があっては見栄えが悪い。鬼の洗濯板に傷が付かなければいいが」と表情を曇らせ、宮崎市漁協職員の安井裕嗣さん（４０）は「イセエビがよく取れるところなので、油が流出しないか心配」と話した。

「鬼の洗濯板」に乗り上げ、宮崎　無人のしゅんせつ船が座礁 10/24/10（共同通信社 山陰中央新報）

　２４日午前８時４５分ごろ、浸食された岩が波状に連なる宮崎県南部の景勝地「鬼の洗濯板」の海岸に、無人のしゅんせつ船「豊栄」（５９１０トン）が座礁した。

　豊栄は、宮崎市青島から日南市にかけて広がる鬼の洗濯板を望む「堀切峠」近くの海岸から、約２５０メートルの岩の上に乗り上げた。撤去作業で岩を傷つける可能性もあるという。

　宮崎海上保安部によると、しゅんせつ船はタグボートにえい航され、山口県から中国に向かう途中。２４日午前０時２０分ごろ、タグボートから「荒天でワイヤが切れ、えい航していた船が流された」と通報があった。

　当時、現場は風が強く大しけの状態だった。宮崎海保は乗組員から事情を聴く方針。

天然記念物「鬼の洗濯板」でタグボート座礁 10/24/10（読売新聞）

　２４日午前８時４５分頃、宮崎市折生迫(おりうざこ)沖の浅瀬にタグボートが座礁した。

　一帯の浅瀬は「鬼の洗濯板」として知られる国の天然記念物。乗っていたインドネシア人７人と韓国人３人は無事だった。

　宮崎海上保安部によると、座礁したのはシエラレオネ船籍の「ＹＭ―８８」（４８１トン）。

　山口県の徳山下松港から中国に向け、無人のしゅんせつ船をえい航していたが、２４日未明、日向灘でワイヤロープが切れ、約８時間漂流して座礁した。

　当時の海域の風速は１２メートル、波の高さは約４メートルで強風と波浪注意報が出ていた。

海難事故　しゅんせつ船「鬼の洗濯板」に座礁　宮崎 10/24/10（毎日新聞）

　２４日午前０時２０分ごろ、宮崎市沖の日向灘を航行中のシエラレオネ船籍のタグボート（４８１トン）から「ワイヤが切れ、えい航していたしゅんせつ船が流された」と第１０管区海上保安本部（鹿児島市）に無線通報があった。しゅんせつ船（５９１０トン）は無人のまま漂流し、午前８時４５分ごろ、景勝地「鬼の洗濯板」として知られる同市折生迫の海岸に座礁した。けが人や油の流出などはない。

　当時、海は高さ約４メートルの波で荒れており、宮崎海保は回航計画に無理がなかったかなどを調べる。船の撤去の見通しは立っていない。タグボートの乗組員はインドネシア人ら計１０人。２２日朝、徳山下松港（山口県）を出港し中国・台州へ向かう途中だった。【石田宗久】

香港籍のコンテナ船　石川の漁船と衝突？ 10/02/10（中日新聞）

　１日午前１時半ごろ、坂井市三国町の北約１９キロの海上で、石川県加賀市の沖合底引き網漁船「第二大栄丸」（１７トン）が、船首方向から南下してきた貨物船と衝突、左舷側を一部損傷し、操舵（そうだ）室を半壊した。中国・香港籍のコンテナ船「大平」（５、２７５トン）と衝突した可能性が高く、敦賀海上保安部で敦賀港（敦賀市）に入港した大平の関係者から事情を聴いている。

　第二大栄丸には５人が乗っていたが、けがはなく、自力で加賀市の漁港に戻り、大平もけが人はなかった。

　同保安部によると、第二大栄丸の船長（４９）から貨物船と衝突したと通報があり、大平が付近を航行中なのを確認。停船と敦賀港への入港を指示した。同保安部は双方の乗組員から事実確認を行っているが、大平の船長（３７）は「衝突したかは分からない」と話している。

　大平の左舷船首のいかり付近には白色の塗膜片らしいものが付着し、第二大栄丸も船体は白色だった。当時、大平は富山から敦賀港に向かっていたが、敦賀入港後、この日の出港を取りやめた。

　同保安部は塗膜片ようのものを調べる一方、引き続き大平の船長らから事情を聴き、事実確認を進める方針。

　当時、天候は穏やかで視界は良好。第二大栄丸は操業中だった。

Oyang 70 rescue: New Zealand 08/18/10（Maritime Bulletin）
The Oyang 70 sank around 4.40am this morning Wed, 18 Aug 2010. The three men whose bodies were recovered after a Korean fishing vessel sank in the Southern Ocean today are all Indonesian. The crew took to life rafts when their 82-metre fishing factory ship, Oyang 70 sank about 800km southeast of Dunedin about 4.40am. The vessel carried a crew of 51.So far 45 have been rescued from life rafts by New Zealand fishing vessel Amaltal Atlantis. The ship also found three bodies, all Indonesian, but the Korean skipper and two other crew members were still missing. The National Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington said the search would continue and the air force Orion which arrived shortly after 9am today could stay in the search area for most of the day. The survivors were all in good condition though the Amaltal Atlantis skipper said some had mild hypothermia, Talleys deep sea fleet chief executive Tony Hazlett said. Amaltal Atlantis was within five or 10 nautical miles of the Oyang 70 when the alarm was raised and there was no hesitation about heading for the stricken vessel as fast as it could, Mr Hazlett said. "We do everything we can to assist. You are 400 (nautical) miles off the coast of New Zealand and your first priority is to assist a vessel in distress." It was very cold but the seas were calm. The Amaltal Atlantis skipper could not give clues about why the Oyang 70 sank. He said there was also no indication the missing six crew members had made it into liferafts or were in the water. "But as time goes on it is looking worse." Amaltal Atlantis did not have accommodation for so many extra people but they were being looked after well. "The skipper said for what they have been through everyone is in pretty good condition. Obviously it is very stressful, the water was very cold so we are doing everything to look after them," Mr Hazlett said. There was plenty of room on the Amaltal Atlantis, he said. "Everyone has got blankets and everyone is as comfortable as they can be. We have got enough food for a crew of 40 people for 50 days." Once the Amaltal Atlantis had been released by the search centre it would head to Dunedin or Christchurch with the survivors. The centre said six boats, and not five as it earlier indicated, were searching for the missing men. Representatives of the Korean and Indonesian consulates visited the rescue centre earlier today and were briefed on the search. NZPA
Oyang No.70 IMO 7238852, dwt 1379, built 1972, flag South Korea.

Cargo vessel caught fire while docked at North Harbor, Manila 07/17/10（Maritime Bulletin）
Tuesday, 20 July 2010

General cargo West Ocean-1, a cargo vessel of 1,495 Gross Tonnage/1,043 Net Tonnage with thirty (30) officers and crew members onboard, caught fire while docked and loading container vans at Pier 16, North Harbor, Manila at 12:05 AM today.

Personnel of Coast Guard Station Manila received the report from the duty personnel of Vessel Traffic Monitoring System based in Corregidor and immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection for appropriate action. The said station immediately informed the Coast Guard District National Capital Region-Central Luzon about the incident and responded to the scene. At 12:18 AM, twenty-three (23) fire trucks arrived at the scene and were able to neutralize the fire and declared fire out at 1:30 AM. No wounded or casualty has been reported.

According to investigation, the Master of the said vessel, Captain Roberto D Saldana, was awakened by one of his crew and informed him that a fire broke out at the engine room. The vessel’s crew members tried to contain the fire, but it worsened and became uncontrollable prompting Captain Saldana to declare abandon ship. Fire Marshals have yet to determine the cause of fire and estimate the damage brought by it.

West Ocean 1 - IMO 7638492, dwt 3953, built 1977, flag Philippines

Major Chinese Oil Port Closed After Blasts Rob Cole 07/19/10（Sky News Online ）

Dalian oil spill cleanup in full swing after pipeline explosion 07/17/10（English.news.cn）
DALIAN, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 500 fishing boats Monday joined a massive oil spill clean-up operation underway off the coast of northeastern China's Dalian City, three days after pipelines exploded near the city's oil reserve base, one of China's largest.

Dalian officials said Monday the fires have been completely extinguished and the focus has shifted to the ocean clean-up and the investigation into the blast.

A dark-brown oil slick has stretched over at least 183 square kilometers of ocean near blast-hit Xingang port, with 50 square kilometers severely affected.

The slick can be seen about seven sea miles off Dayao Bay and it turns notably thicker about five sea miles off the bay and gives off a strong smell.

The over 500 fishing boats have been loaded with oil absorbers and dispersants to help in the clean up south of Dalian's Golden Pebble Beach and east of Bangchui Island, local maritime officials said.

Luan Yuxuan, deputy director of Dalian City's Oceanic and Fishery Administration, said the clean-up operations will take at least four to five days.

Each of the six large, specialized oil-spill-control vessels working in the clean up can take in 100 tons of oil-contaminated water per hour. But their work has been slowed by strong winds and big waves, said China National Offshore Oil Corporation engineers.

The cleanup started Saturday. By Monday morning, 24 oil clean-up vessels and 800 fishing boats had collected about 460 tonnes of the spilled oil, Luan said.

But officials said they did not know the exact amount of oil spilled into the sea.

Large quantities of oil-spill dispersant and absorption felts have been shipped in from neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Shandong Province, maritime officials said.

Meanwhile, vessel traffic at Dalian, China's second largest port for crude oil imports, has been limited to allow to the cleanup operations to proceed.

Wang Ning, an engineer with the maritime authorities in Liaoning Province, told Xinhua port operations have been limited and not completely suspended.

Ships are allowed to enter and exit the ports with permission, he said.

Fire engulfed the Xingang port Friday evening, after an oil pipeline exploded, triggering an adjacent pipeline to also explode. The fires raged for 15 hours before being extinguished Saturday morning. No one was hurt in the explosions or subsequent fire.

A high-level investigation team has been set up to probe the incident.

The storage facility is owned by Dalian port and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), China's top oil company.

CNPC General Manager Jiang Jiemin said the company has tightened safety measures at all of its facilities and will complete the clean up the slick as soon as possible.

Ding Shaoheng, a senior CNPC engineer, said the economic losses cannot be immediately estimated as the company may be penalized for the incident.

He said in any case the impact on CNPC operations would be limited.

The company, however, has announced plans to cut refining operations at one of its joint venture subsidiaries, West Pacific PetroChemical Corp. (WEPEC), by 20 percent in July and to suspend its export business.

The WEPEC is a major CNPC oil reserve base that exports roughly 200,000 tonnes of refined oil every month.

Oil Leak From Dalian Pipeline Explosion, Fires Is Under Control, CNPC Says 07/17/10（Bloomberg News）
An oil leak after a pipeline explosion at the Dalian New Port in northeast China has been sealed off and further pollution prevented after valves were shut, China National Petroleum Corp. said.

The explosion was sparked during the offloading of an oil tanker yesterday at 6:20 p.m., CNPC said today in a statement on its website. The fire was extinguished and the company is investigating the accident, which didn’t harm anyone, it said.

The crude oil storage facilities at the Dalian port site contain six tanks, each with capacity of 100,000 tons, CNPC said.

More than 2,000 firefighters worked overnight battling the flames and the incident drew attention from the country’s top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Mao Zefeng, the company’s spokesman, couldn’t be immediately reached on his mobile phone.

General cargo sinks after collision, S Korea 05/26/10（Maritime Bulletin）
Chinese General cargo Fu Ping Yuan collided with Japanese tanker CS Crane near Palmido island Incheon on June 16, Chinese Fu Ping Yuan sank, crew safe. Fu Ping Yuan IMO 8834976 Flag China build 1990 DWT 2226. CS Crane IMO 9366926 Flag Panama build 2007 DWT 11200.

Lloyd’s syndicates launch legal action over BP insurance claim Robin Pagnamenta 05/26/10（TimesOnline）
BP’s attempts to limit the financial damage from the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico suffered a blow yesterday when almost half the syndicates in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market launched a legal action against the company.

The syndicates are attempting to block efforts by the oil giant to claim on cover held by the rig operator Transocean.

BP, which had no external insurance in place for the accident, is trying to claim up to $700 million through a policy held by Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig that BP has blamed for the April 20 blast. A spokesman for BP said: “We believe we may be entitled to coverage for the incident under Transocean’s insurance.”

But in legal documents filed in a Houston court, 38 separate Lloyd’s underwriting syndicates plus a string of other international insurers affected by the disaster, rejected BP’s claim.

They have asked a US judge to declare the group has “no additional-insured obligation to BP” for the clean-up or for any damages resulting from the spill.

The Lloyd’s syndicates claim that BP’s contract to lease the rig from Transocean specifies that its insurers would only be held responsible for damage to the rig itself — not for pollution caused by a leak from it.

The filing states: “Because liabilities BP faces for pollution emanating from BP’s well are from below the surface and from BP’s well, those liabilities are not within the scope of the additional insured protection.”

The syndicates involved include QBE Underwriting, Talbot and Amlin - all of which declined to comment yesterday. Lloyd’s also declined to comment on the case. As well as about half of the 78 syndicates that operate on Lloyd’s of London, the lawsuit was also brought by Axis Specialty Europe, Berkeley Insurance Company, Houston Casualty Insurance Company and Zurich American Insurance Company.

Phelps Dunbar, a New Orleans legal firm, is handling the case for the insurance group.

According to Catlin, one of the biggest players on the Lloyd’s market involved in the legal action, the oil spill will be the biggest loss in the energy market since the explosion of the Piper Alpha platform in 1988. Spiralling losses from that incident cost Lloyd’s £8 billion between 1988 and 1992.

Even if BP succeeds in its attempt to secure insurance, it will cover only a small portion of the total costs to it from the accident. Analysts for Swiss Re have estimated that the total insured losses from the accident could reach $3.5 billion. However, according to UBS, the final bill could be as much as $12 billion.

The oil company says 23,000 individual claims have already been filed, of which 9,000 have so far been settled.

BP, which declined to comment further on the litigation, and Transocean are already facing more than 130 lawsuits relating to the spill.

On Monday, BP said the cost of the clean-up had hit $760 million - a figure that excludes claims from fishermen and other industries affected by it.

貨物船座礁２人死亡１人重体、１人不明…宮崎 05/23/10（読売新聞）

　２３日午前３時頃、宮崎県日向市細島の細島港に入港しようとしていた熊本県上天草市の勝丸運輸所属の貨物船「第八勝丸」（３７６トン）の船長から、「入港中に座礁した。救命ボートで脱出する」と第十管区海上保安本部（鹿児島）に無線で通報があった。

　日向海上保安署の巡視艇「ほこかぜ」が駆けつけたところ、２人が海に浮き、転覆している救命ボートを見つけた。さらに１人が近くの岩場で見つかった。３人は病院に運ばれたが、２人が死亡し、１人が意識不明の重体。同船の乗組員は４人で、残りの１人の行方が分かっていない。

　宮崎海上保安部によると、乗っていたのは、船長吉永康秀さん（６１）、水本秀広さん（５６）、松田俊一さん（５９）＝いずれも上天草市＝、石橋忠義さん（６７）＝北九州市＝の４人。貨物船は鹿児島県の加治木港から細島港に向かっていた。

　宮崎地方気象台によると、当時、宮崎県北部には強風注意報と波浪注意報が出ており、細島港付近では約３メートルの波が観測されていた。

海難事故：貨物船が操縦誤り、浅瀬に乗り上げる－－松江・美保関　／鳥取 05/16/10（毎日新聞）

　１４日午後５時ごろ、境港市潮見町対岸の松江市美保関町付近の浅瀬にパナマ船籍の貨物船、「タザワコ」＝１９９６トン、金永運船長（６３）＝が乗り上げた。韓国人やミャンマー人の乗組員１３人にけがはなく、油の流出もなかった。同船は同日午後７時３５分ごろ、タグボートに引かれて離礁した。

運搬船、貨物船と衝突し水没　乗員は避難　大分・周防灘 05/10/10（朝日新聞）

　１０日午前４時半ごろ、大分県国東半島沖にある姫島の北西約１２キロの周防灘で、パナマ船籍の貨物船ＱＩＮＧ　ＳＨＵＮ（１９９７トン、１４人乗り組み）と日本船籍のセメント運搬船第５早矢丸（４９５トン、岡田通船長ら４人乗り組み）が衝突した。けが人はいなかった。

　大分海上保安部によると、第５早矢丸は船首を残して水没し、乗組員はゴムボートで避難した。同船は福岡県の苅田港に向かう途中だった。現場海域には長さ約５００メートルにわたって燃料の油が流出した。

商船三井運搬船が中国沖で衝突し沈没、乗員救助 05/07/10（読売新聞）

　商船三井は７日、同社が所有・運航する鉄鉱石運搬船「ブライト・センチュリー」（９万２６７トン）が今月２日、中国・山東半島の東約４０キロの沖合で貨物船と衝突して沈没したと発表した。

　ブライト・センチュリーにはインド人の乗組員２３人が乗っていたが、近くを航行中の船に全員が救助された。

　衝突したのはリベリア船籍の貨物船で、この船の乗組員も全員、ヘリで救助された。当時、現場海域は濃霧に覆われていたという。

　商船三井は公表が遅れたことについて「事実関係の確認と、中国政府との調整に時間がかかったため」としている。

Hong Kong ship Bright Century sinks off Weihai City 05/03/10（news.xinhuanet.com）
JINAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A Hong Kong cargo ship sank off Weihai City, east China's Shandong Province, Sunday after a collision with a Liberian-registered freighter, rescuers said.

All 46 crew members of the two vessels were safe after the accident at 5:23 a.m., the city's maritime safety bureau said in a statement.

The accident could have occurred in foggy conditions at the time, said Li Zhiqiang, an official with the city's maritime safety bureau

The 23 Chinese crew of the Hong Kong-registered Bright Century and the 23 Indian crew of the Liberia-registered Sea Success had been rescued as of noon, he said.

Water had flooded into the damaged prow of the Sea Success, but the vessel was still afloat.

The bureau had dispatched a ship to shadow the vessel as it was still in negotiations with the owner about the cost of towing the ship to port.

The bureau is investigating the cause of the accident.

SOURCE: news.xinhuanet.com

Stricken bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 undergoes final tests before refloating Sarah Vogler and AAP 04/12/10（couriermail.com.au）
EXPERTS have begun testing damaged tanks onboard the Shen Neng 1 as they prepare to refloat the stricken vessel.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said the tanks would be filled with air to check they are free of oil.

If they come up clean then there is a possibility an attempt will be made to lift the vessel, which ran aground on Douglas Shoal off Gladstone while taking a shortcut through the Great Barrier Reef, off the reef at high tide tonight.

"We want to test there’re no large deposits of heavy oil left in the tanks. It’s important we blow them out during daylight hours so we can see and capture any heavy oil lost,” Mr Quirk said said.

“Each tank will sounded and separately blown down one at a time with booms in place to help contain any oil.”

Mr Quirk said the damage to the ship’s structure meant the fuel oil had mixed with seawater making the oil recovery process now difficult once the ‘easy’ oil was out.

“Since the early hours of Sunday morning we were pumping thicker residue with the consistency of cold honey as well as pockets of oily seawater,” he said.

“It appears fuel is trapped in hard-to-access tanks mixed with seawater making it hard to get all the oil out of the tanks.”

Mr Quirk said the weather was forecast to deteriorate in the next 24 hours to a strong south-easterly trade wind.

He said decisions on refloating would not be made until the testing process was complete.

Refloating would also be made on an assessment of tides, and weather and sea conditions.

The move comes as three crew from a bulk coal carrier appear in court today, after the vessel allegedly strayed into a restricted zone in the Great Barrier Reef.

A 63-year-old South Korean man and two Vietnamese men aged 26 and 32 were arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Saturday, after the bulk coal carrier, the MV Mimosa, allegedly entered the no-go zone last week, in waters off Bowen, in north Queensland.

Navigational equipment and charts were seized by officers.

They've been charged and are due to face Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

They face fines of up to $220,000.

The AFP will allege the Panama-flagged vessel was not registered with the Vessel Tracking System (VTS) and did not respond to attempts by authorities to contact them.

The incident happened less than 24 hours after the grounding of the Shen Neng 1 off the Central Queensland coast last week.

Shen Neng 1's tracking device was on the blink before it ran aground on Barrier Reef 04/10/10（couriermail.com.au）
THE stricken coal carrier Sheng Neng 1 will not be refloated until next week, as it emerges a compulsory tracking device on the vessel had stopped working.

Premier Anna Bligh said the transfer of oil from the carrier had so far been without problem and until it was finished and seaworthy inspections complete, the ship would remain on Douglas Shoal off the Rockhampton coastline.

"I don't expect to see attempts to refloat the ship for another three or four days," Ms Bligh said today.

"We won't see all the oil off the ship probably until the end of the weekend at the earliest.

"Then there will have to be considerable assessments taken of the vessel, empty of the oil, before any flotation processes can occur.

"I wouldn't expect to see a refloat attempt for three, four or five days' time."

The Shen Neng 1 has been grounded on Douglas Shoal since it veered off course and crashed into the reef last Saturday.

Ms Bligh said the ship owner's insurance company was meeting costs of the salvage operation so far.

She said the Government would pursue the insurance company for expenses incurred in assisting with the salvage operation and also all preventive measures that have been taken to combat any potential oil slick.

"The salvage operation is currently being paid for by the insurance company of the owners of this boat," Ms Bligh said.

"The insurance company has contracted the salvage operation. The public costs to date are those being prepared on land for the possibility of any oil spill, which hasn't occurred yet.

"It's much lower costs than a comprehensive clean-up as we saw with the Pacific Adventurer.

"We will certainly be claiming them against the insurer of the ship.

"We will have to wait and see whether they reach the cap and, as we did with the last one (Pacific Adventurer), we'll be making sure the taxpayers are not charged with any of these costs."

The Pacific Adventurer ran aground during a cyclone in March last year, sending 250 tonnes of oil on to beaches along the southeast Queensland coast. It sparked a clean-up operation that cost $34 million, some of which was borne by taxpayers.

On Friday, the Sheng Neng 1's owner, Shenzhen Energy Transport Co Ltd, broke its silence, apologising for the accident and promising to co-operate with authorities to minimise any environmental damage.

The company said it was working with investigators to establish the facts, including that the vessel ran aground at 5.05pm and the accident was reported five minutes later.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed the bulk carrier's Automatic Identification System - a required tracking device on all ships with a gross tonnage exceeding 300 tonnes – stopped tracking its position at 12.30pm last Saturday.

The ship was holed in shallow water off Douglas Shoal in the Great Barrier Reef just after 5pm.

The device, required by the International Maritime Authority, is intended to assist the vessel's watch-keeping officers and allows maritime authorities to track and monitor the ship's movements.

It also broadcasts navigational aids and marker positions to the ship.

Maritime experts said it was unusual for the equipment to cut off, but that alone could not explain the ship running aground.

However, experts said equipment failure could point to a series of things going wrong on the ship. The cut-off of the AIS was revealed as a discrepancy emerged between the time the Shen Neng 1's owners say they told authorities of the crash and the time the first call was logged in Canberra.

A statement released by the vessel's owners, Shenzhen Energy Transport, says the ship ran aground on the Douglas Shoal at 5.05pm and authorities were notified at 5.10pm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, however, said it was not told until after 6.30pm.

Maritime Safety Queensland did not receive notification until 7pm.

Premier Anna Bligh said she was concerned by the discrepancy. "I am a bit disturbed to see an assertion in their press release that they notified Australian authorities when the event first happened," Ms Bligh said.

"I am advised from AMSA and from Queensland authorities that none of their records show any indication from the ship owners of report of the incident until after 6.30 on Saturday night."

An official for Shenzhen Energy clarified last night that two logs on board the ship had recorded different notification times. "The vessel radio log says 5.10pm, but a deck log ties in with what the Rescue Control Centre is saying," the official said.

"An investigation will determine which is right."

After almost a week of silence, Shenzhen Energy issued an apology over the accident yesterday, and acknowledged the importance of the Great Barrier Reef.

However, the statement offered no explanation as to how the grounding occurred, nor did it mention compensation.

Barrier Reef shortcut taken by Shen Neng 1 not illegal Anna Caldwell and Ursula Heger 04/07/10（couriermail.com.au）
MORE than 10 ships a month use the short-cut taken by the ill-fated Shen Neng 1, and authorities do nothing to stop them.

The figures come after it was revealed the Chinese bulk carrier had lodged its shipping plan, detailing a short-cut beneath Douglas Shoal, with maritime authorities before leaving Gladstone.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said no one saw the plan, because the policy was to leave the route to the "discretion of the ship's captain".

AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said the federal authority did not have to approve the shipping plan.

"We take the plan as part of a search-and-rescue process," she said, adding that the plan was not seen until the ship ran aground, just under six nautical miles off the short-cut course.

AMSA criticised the Shen Neng 1 crew, saying any "competent and alert" watch-keeping officer should be capable of navigating the waters, even those of the short-cut.

In a statement, AMSA said there was "sufficient sea room to manoeuvre the ship to avoid collision, water depths of approximately 40m and navigational aides to assist in position fixing".

The statement also said "there are no recommended routes".

But, just 24 hours earlier, Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said the short-cut route was not "best practice" and posed a higher risk than the northern route.

It has also emerged the ship's owner, Cosco, had a chequered history, with three major incidents in as many years.

In November 2007, a Cosco ship spilled 1826 tonnes of oil into San Francisco Bay, and last year the company was responsible for Norway's worst oil spill on record.

Australian Marine Conservation spokesman Darren Kindleysides said despite claims the Reef was easy to navigate, the Cosco incident indicated the potential for disaster was too great for authorities to ignore.

"The grounding of the Shen Neng 1 shows the Reef is not protected adequately from shipping," Mr Kindleysides said.

"This incident must spur the Government to ensure the Reef is better safeguarded from the growth in shipping traffic that has resulted from the resources boom in Queensland."

According to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, despite the increase in traffic, over the past 10 years there have been three or fewer major shipping incidents each year.

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was prepared to toughen shipping requirements in the wake of the incident.

Meanwhile, up to 150 tonnes of heavy oil could still wash up on Queensland beaches if efforts to save the stranded Shen Neng 1 are not successful, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.

The revelation came as authorities reversed a decision to move 150 tonnes of oil in a breached compartment to a safer area of the ship, after small leaks from the bulk carrier ceased.

Two heavy-lifting helicopters will take pumps and compressors between Rockhampton and the stranded ship, while a smaller vessel carrying boom equipment will set off as early as today.

Current plans are to refloat the Shen Neng 1 with its cargo of 65,000 tonnes of coal, estimated to be worth about $15 million, on board.

Responding to the Shen Neng 1 crisis has cost the Queensland Government at least $1 million so far.

Ms Nolan said computer modelling showed in a "worst-case scenario" Queensland's beaches could still be under threat.

"Computer modelling shows that 150 tonnes could wash up at Cape Manifold in two to three days, and so we're preparing a number of initiatives that will ensure we are ready for that eventuality," she said.

Ms Nolan said the 50m bunker barge Larcom, which would leave Gladstone today, would be used to pump the total 975 tonnes of heavy oil from the stricken vessel.

"This remains a precarious situation, and one of the most delicate operations in recent marine history is about to get under way," Ms Nolan said.

She said she was "furious" at reports the captain of the Shen Neng 1 did not believe the oil leak was serious.

Brisbane's Chinese Consular-General Ren Gongping said that the ship's captain, Wang Jichang, was under "a lot of stress" over the grounding of the ship and the salvage effort.

He said Captain Wang was "happy to co-operate" with the Queensland Government over the investigation.

Captain more worried about rescuers eating all his food than damage to Reef 04/07/10（news.com.au）
Captain "can't see any oil on sea" Worried as rescuers drink ship's water Short-cut would have saved an hour

THE captain of a stranded Chinese coal ship is concerned about Australian rescue teams drinking his crew's water and eating their food but not the oil spill threatening Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

The Courier-Mail reports Captain Wang Jichang told Brisbane's Chinese Consul-General Ren Gongping that the leaking of oil was "not serious" and had been exaggerated, but the dwindling food supplies on the Shen Neng 1 were a concern.

"They need some more water because the rescue team is consuming the water and food," Mr Ren said.

"They need that. That is a problem at the moment.

"The leakage is not very serious so far. So far he (Capt Wang) cannot see the oil on the sea."

Maritime authorities are still unable to give an assurance the ship will not break up during salvage operations, spilling 975 tonnes of heavy fuel still on-board, into the precious Reef.

At least two-and-a-half tonnes of heavy fuel oil has already seeped into the pristine area.

Maritime authorities are investigating claims the ship was effectively rat-running through an undesignated, alternate shipping area.

But experts say the the short-cut would have only saved one hour and $2220 worth of fuel by running the risk of the Reef.

Premier Anna Bligh said she was disappointed Capt Wang didn't understand the gravity of the disaster.

"If the Chinese crew are under any illusions that this is a minor incident, I'm sure that when they get off the boat and see what the world has to say they'll understand a bit more clearly just how serious this is," she said.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown yesterday called for a royal commission into the grounding of the Shen Neng 1, as the Maritime Union of Australia said it had long been clear that foreign-flagged ships were renowned for taking short-cuts through the environmentally sensitive waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Stricken carrier Shen Neng 1 may have tried shortcut before Barrier Reef grounding 04/06/10（couriermail.com.au）
THE Chinese-registered ship now dragging against the Great Barrier Reef could have been attempting an illegal shortcut when it ran aground on Saturday night.

The Shen Neng 1 was 15km outside the shipping lane and near a known shortcut between reefs in Queensland's world famous marine playground when it crashed into coral.

A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman has confirmed the existence of a channel with sufficient depth to enable ships to pass through - effectively creating a Reef rat run to save time and money in their journeys.

But authorities are refusing to discuss any reason for the Shen Neng 1 being so far off course. More than two days after the incident, they have started three inquiries but not formally interviewed the crew.

Oil that leaked from the stricken coal carrier has been dispersed, the Queensland government says.

Transport department spokesman Mark Strong says dispersant sprayed onto the slick has worked, and the oil has broken up.

``The slick that was there has responded to the treatment and there have been no further additional spills,'' Mr Strong said on Tuesday.

Authorities plan to have a floating boom around the Shen Neng 1 sometime on Tuesday to contain any further leaks.

Chinese news agency Xinhua is reporting Captain Wang Jichang told the Consul-general in Brisbane Ren Gongping that there were no injuries among the 23 crew members.

The consul-general told the media organisation the captain had said the incident is not serious and repair is underway.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will on Tuesday fly over the stricken ship, which is stuck on Douglas Shoal 70km east of Great Keppel Island.

Tug boats are being used to stabilise the ship which is continuing to grind against the shoal.

Authorities no longer believe it's at serious risk of breaking up but say that could change if the weather worsens.

Equipment will arrive at the scene of the grounded bulk carrier on Wednesday which it is hoped will be able to contain further oil spills or pump oil off the ship.

Tugs have also been brought in to stabilise the vessel, which has been dragged by the force of the ocean up to 30m away from where it first hit Douglas Shoal.

Sonar equipment is expected to paint a clearer picture of the damage to Shen Neng 1's engine, rudder and fuel tanks, while the army remains on standby should oil wash up on nearby beaches.

Three investigations have been launched into how the ship came to be up to 15 nautical miles off course when it ran aground, but there are still no answers as to how the ship came to be in the restricted area.

Speculation has mounted that the ship was taking a shortcut when it rammed into Douglas Shoal.

Maritime Safety Queensland have revealed that maritime maps of the area showed a lane existed between the two reefs that would allow passage for a cargo ship.

An MSQ spokesman said the passage was possible, but "poorly executed" by the Shen Neng 1 which was obviously "well outside the shipping lanes".

Commercial and non-commercial fishermen said they saw at least one bulk carrier duck south of Douglas Shoal every day.

In addition to investigations under way by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the MSQ, Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett has asked the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to assess the damage and advise on the ship's safe removal.

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Brad Carter said his community wanted to know why their prized portion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was placed in jeopardy.

"I will be looking for a full explanation from federal and state authorities as to how this situation occurred and how a vessel of this size could be so far off course in the Great Barrier Reef," he said.

Cr Carter said he was disgusted that it was allowed to veer off course in such a delicate area, and called for those responsible to face charges.

Chinese owners Cosco maintained their public silence yesterday but face fines of up to $1 million over the incident, while the captain could be handed an individual penalty of up to $250,000. The Cosco group did not respond to inquiries from The Courier-Mail but AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said Cosco was in regular contact with the salvage company Svitzer.

Premier Anna Bligh said the ship had acted illegally and it should face the "full force of the law". The crew are yet to be formally interviewed, and have remained on board the vessel.

Authorities said yesterday their focus had remained on stabilising the vessel and minimising the oil spill.

AMSA chief executive Graham Peachey said the first priority was to clean up the damage and salvage the ship, and a thorough investigation would follow. "We will be looking very, very carefully at this," he said.

"It is in the wrong place - there's no doubt about that - but the inquiry will actually establish why and how it got there and also establish what offence may or may not have been committed against Commonwealth law."

MSQ yesterday said they expected good weather forecast for the area would stop further damage to the vessel.

"In the current conditions we are reasonably assured, as far as we can be, that there will be no catastrophic break-up of the ship, but if the weather turned bad it will be another problem," general manager Patrick Quirk said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will fly over the Shen Neng 1 on Tuesday to survey the damage to the Reef. Mr Garrett said he would work closely with Transport Minister Anthony Albanese to consider if additional measures were required for managing shipping in the Great Barrier Reef.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Mr Garrett was not fit to be overseeing the disaster clean-up.

"Peter Garrett is a proven failure," he said. "He has a proven record of incompetence when it comes to managing programs and dealing with issues."

Ursula Heger, Anna Caldwell and Sarah Vogler

Grounded Shen Neng 1 may have tried illegal shortcut through Great Barrier Reef By Ursula Heger, Anna Caldwell and Sarah Vogler 04/06/10（news.com.au）

Local fisherman say it's not unusual to see bulk carriers taking the shortcut. Image courtesy of The Courier-Mail Source: PerthNow

Illegal alley through Reef confirmed
Shen Neng 1 was 15km off-course
PM Rudd to fly over Reef today


THE Chinese-registered ship now dragging against the Great Barrier Reef could have been attempting an illegal shortcut when it ran aground on Saturday night.

The Shen Neng 1 hit Douglas Shoal at full speed.

The Courier-Mail reports the Shen Neng 1 was 15km outside the shipping lane and near a known shortcut between reefs in Queensland's world famous marine playground when it crashed into coral.

A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman has confirmed the existence of a channel with sufficient depth to enable ships to pass through – effectively creating a Reef rat-run to save time and money in their journeys.

But authorities are refusing to discuss any reason for the Shen Neng 1 being so far off course.

More than two days after the incident, they have started three inquiries but not formally interviewed the crew.

Speculation has mounted about the possibility that the ship was taking a shortcut.

An MSQ spokesman said the passage was possible, but "poorly executed" by the Shen Neng 1 which was obviously "well outside the shipping lanes".

Commercial and non-commercial fishermen said they saw at least one bulk carrier duck south of Douglas Shoal every day.

Authorities are hoping for good weather to stop a stricken carrier spilling more oil into the Great Barrier Reef.

Maritime experts said good weather forecast for the area would stop a "catastrophic break-up of the ship".

Equipment will arrive at the scene of the grounded bulk carrier tomorrow which is hoped will be able to contain further oil spills or pump oil off the ship.

Tugs have also been brought in to stabilise the vessel, which has been dragged by the force of the ocean up to 30m away from where it first hit Douglas Shoal.

Sonar equipment is expected to paint a clearer picture of the damage to Shen Neng 1's engine, rudder and fuel tanks, while the army remains on standby should oil wash up on nearby beaches.

Chinese owners Cosco maintained their public silence yesterday but face fines of up to $1 million over the incident, while the captain could be handed an individual penalty of up to $250,000.

The Cosco group did not respond to inquiries from The Courier-Mail but AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said Cosco was in regular contact with the salvage company Svitzer.

Premier Anna Bligh said the ship had acted illegally and it should face the "full force of the law".

The crew are yet to be formally interviewed and have remained on board the vessel.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will fly over the Shen Neng 1 today to survey the damage to the Reef.

Stricken Chinese cargo carrier Shen Neng 1 grinds up Great Barrier Reef 04/05/10（news.com.au）
Shen Neng 1 hits Barrier Reef at full speed
Coal carry could take weeks to salvage
Ship leaking oil, in danger of breaking up

A BULK coal carrier leaking oil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is grinding against the shoal it's stuck on, causing more damage.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) says salvage experts have boarded the Chinese-registered Shen Neng 1 and will focus on stabilising the vessel amid fears it could break up.

The ship's owners, the Cosco Group -- China's largest shipping company -- could be fined more than $1 million and its captain $220,000, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said.

MSQ says a tug boat is at the site of the grounding, 70km east of Great Keppel Island, trying to stabilise the ship.

"In the current conditions we are reasonably assured, as far as we can be, that there will be no catastrophic break-up of the ship, but if the weather turned bad it will be another problem,'' MSQ general manager Patrick Quirk said.

The weather for the next few days was forecast to be similar to current conditions, which posed no threat, he said.

A salvage team was onboard the ship to determine its structural damage.

It had been confirmed so far that the rudder was seriously damaged, the double bottom tanks, which provide buoyancy for the ship, had been breached and it was suspected one of the fuel tanks had also been breached.

Mr Quirk said MSQ was yet to decide on how the boat would be salvaged and refloated.

"One of the key issues for us is to understand the condition that vessel is currently in after a very full-speed grounding on a very hard object," he said.

"We need to look at the strength of the vessel until we look at the refloating options.

"This will be a matter of weeks."

One option MSQ was looking at was removing all of the oil off the ship, before attempting to refloat it.

"We want to minimise the risk to the reef," Mr Quirk said.

Ms Bligh said the risk of the ship breaking up had lessened.

"We will today have two tugboats in place stabilising the ship, and those tugboats will be working with the salvage team to determine how to put the salvage plan together," she said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will personally inspect the site of the oil spill in the Great Barrier Reef amid growing concerns about its environmental impact.

Mr Rudd is due to fly over the site in an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft tomorrow morning, a spokesman from his office said.

The MSQ sent up aircraft this morning to monitor oil leaking from the ship, which is carrying 975 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 65,000 tonnes of coal.

Dispersants were used yesterday in an effort to break up the slick, stretching for about three kilometres and about 100m wide.

"MSQ have aircraft in the air now doing an assessment, although the hope is that little oil escaped through the night," Mr Quirk said.

"We also have helicopters surveying the coast to prepare early planning in the event of needing to get equipment onto the beach."

Salvage experts are onboard the vessel, assessing its structural integrity and options for refloating. More experts will arrive in the afternoon.

Mr Quirk said the initial damage report was that the main engine room was breached, the main engine damaged and the rudder seriously damaged.

Ms Bligh has said the Chinese-registered coal carrier was off course and travelling at full speed without a marine pilot in a restricted part of the park when it hit a shoal on Saturday.

She has promised a full investigation.

The Federal Opposition's environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the Government must offer the help of the defence force.

"What we need to make sure is that the prime minister is personally in charge, that he assumes responsibility, and therefore appropriate Defence assets should be made available," Mr Hunt told the ABC.

"The ship could easily break up, and to be wise after the fact will be an environmental disaster for the barrier reef."

Ms Bligh said Commonwealth investigators would examine why the ship was 15km outside the shipping lane.

"There are thousands of ships that pass through this area very safely in authorised shipping channels on a weekly basis through Queensland waters," she said.

"This ship is in an area, a restricted zone of the Great Barrier Reef, where there is no authorised shipping and it is totally off limits".

Ms Bligh said the ship's owners could be fined up to $1 million and the captain could be hit with a $250,000 penalty.

The number of ships in the area was expected to increase with the growth of the natural gas industry, she said.

The Premier said Maritime Safety Queensland was already considering whether more professional pilots should be used to help with ships' navigation.

"It may well be that we will see more pilots," she said.

Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett today said salvors were soon expected to report back to authorities with recommendations of how to best manage the potential disaster.

"We do know the salvors ... responsible for assessing the ship are on the ship, they'll be reporting early today with recommendations on what has to happen next," he told ABC Radio.

Two applications of chemical dispersant have been sprayed on oil patches near the stranded vessel, although Mr Garrett said they were not too large.

"It seems as though there is little oil visible in the water at present," he said.

"Clearly this is a situation that's unfolding."

Mr Garrett said he will wait to see the results of an investigation into the incident before passing judgement on why it happened.

"It is the case that this vessel is in poor condition and it is compromised, that's is a highly serious matter," he said.

"(But) I think it would be premature to start speaking about what may or may not happen."

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said if Mr Garrett couldn't successfully oversee Labor's botched Home Insulation Program, he couldn't be trusted to help manage the spill.

"Right now, the Prime Minister, this day, should assume personal responsibility and take charge of protecting the Great Barrier Reef," he said.

Oil spill threatens Gt. Barrier Reef 04/5/10（REUTERS, U-tube）

Leaking ship's owners face $1m fine over Great Barrier Reef 04/5/10（The New York Times）

A Chinese-registered 230m-long bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, about 70km east of Great Keppel Island. Source: AAP

THE captain of a shipwrecked Chinese cargo ship spewing oil on to the Great Barrier Reef faces government legal action after straying into the off-limits marine reserve and ramming into a sandbar off Great Keppel Island.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the crippled Shen Neng 1, which was leaking a 3km ribbon of oil from a ruptured fuel tank, was at risk of breaking apart overnight in what has the potential to become one of the country's worst environmental disasters.

The ship's owners, the Cosco Group -- China's largest shipping company -- could be fined more than $1 million and its captain $220,000, Ms Bligh said.

"The situation remains serious as the extent of the damage means there is a very real risk the vessel may break apart," she said.

"Every effort is now being made to limit the impact of this incident on the Great Barrier Reef."

The 225m cargo ship picked up 65,000 tonnes of coal from Gladstone and was running at full speed when it crashed into Douglas Shoal, 120km east of Rockhampton, about 5pm on Saturday.

The sandbar, which is at least 15km from normal shipping routes, is off-limits to commercial vessels because it is within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Patrick Quirk said the vessel, which was loaded with 975 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, was "completely damaged" on its port side.

The ship's captain, who initially denied his ship was leaking fuel oil, later discovered the leak and notified the authorities. At 2am, officials identified two large oil slicks about 4km southeast of the grounded vessel.

Aircraft were called from Rockhampton to spray the oil patches with chemical dispersant.

Rescue teams were on standby last night to evacuate the 23 crew.

Mr Quirk said all ships were required to carry insurance that covered them for such incidents.

Don Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, said the ship's owners could be liable for the potential multi-million-dollar clean-up cost.

Ms Bligh said any further leaks could take days to reach the mainland, and were most likely to hit beaches at the Shoalwater Bay National Park.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said the ship's owners and master might have breached the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act, the Protection of the Sea Act, the Navigation Act, and international liability conventions.

"As the vessel is in commonwealth waters, the commonwealth will take the lead on any investigations," the spokeswoman said.

The Cosco Group could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said the government would respond to the findings of an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Greens leader Bob Brown said it was unacceptable the Shen Neng 1 did not have a pilot on board in that area.

"Despite calls for all such ships to have pilots aboard, both Canberra and Brisbane have bowed to the coal and shipping companies to avoid this commonsense requirement," Senator Brown said.

Ms Bligh said the issue of pilots for vessels navigating the reef was under active study, given the traffic from coal and gas exports.

The incident raises questions about the enforcement of Australia's marine reserves, since marine traffic control systems do not cover the waters.

"In this instance, the vessel could have gone through, missed the shoal, and we would have been none the wiser," said Maritime Safety Queensland's Mr Quirk.

Additional reporting: AAP

Fuel Leak Threatening Great Barrier Reef 04/4/10（The Australian）
HONG KONG :8212; Salvage experts and a tugboat crew struggled on Monday to save a large Chinese freighter that slammed into the Great Barrier Reef off Australia over the weekend, trying to prevent the vessel from breaking apart as some of the 1,075 tons of engine fuel in its tanks began oozing from the hull, threatening the world’s largest collection of coral.

The freighter, the Shen Neng 1, crashed into the reef at full speed late Saturday, a few hours after leaving the port of Gladstone, the Australian authorities said. The ship, which was nine miles outside its authorized shipping lane, was hauling 72,000 tons of coal.

Patrick Quirk, general manager of maritime safety for Queensland, the Australian state where the vessel ran aground, said in a statement Monday morning that a hole in the bottom of the ship allowed water into the main engine room. The main engine was damaged and the rudder was seriously damaged, he said. “One of the most worrying aspects is that the ship is still moving on the reef to the action of the seas, which is doing further damage,” he said.

Anna Bligh, Queensland’s premier, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio early Monday, “It’s possible that this could be one of the most complex and difficult salvage operations we’ve seen, certainly in Queensland’s maritime history and possibly Australia’s.”

An Australian aircraft dropped chemical dispersants on Sunday on what the authorities described as a ribbon of oil two miles long and as wide as the length of a football field.

Ocean swells of 6 to 10 feet prevented the deployment of floating booms to contain the oil slick. The swells also repeatedly lifted the ship and dropped it on the shoal, where it ran aground.

Basil M. Karatzas, a project manager at Compass Maritime Services, a ship broker in Fort Lee, N.J., said it was not unusual that the 755-foot Shen Neng 1 would be carrying so much bunker fuel. A ship of that size and design would burn about 35 tons of fuel a day, he said, and would require at least two weeks to travel from eastern Australia to China.

Ships headed to China carry extra fuel to be ready for long delays on arrival. Port delays are common because commodities are pouring into the country to sustain its economic boom. Depending on the fuel’s density, the amount carried by the Shen Neng would equate to about 325,000 gallons.

Coal is much less toxic than oil, but could blanket the sea bottom if the ship comes apart, Mr. Karatzas said.

China is the world’s largest consumer of coal, burning more than the United States, the European Union and Japan combined.

Relations between China and Australia have frayed since a Chinese court imposed prison sentences last Monday of 7 to 14 years on four executives of Rio Tinto, an Australian mining company. The executives pleaded guilty to accepting $13.5 million in bribes to influence their allocation of scarce iron ore to Chinese steelmakers.

Australia’s environmental movement is very sensitive to any threat to the Great Barrier Reef, making it rather likely that a full investigation will be conducted into how the Shen Neng 1 strayed so far off course. It ran aground 44 miles east of Great Keppel Island, off eastern Australia about 370 miles north of Brisbane, in an area of the reef that is subject to especially stringent environmental restrictions and that is popular with sport fishermen.

An Australian police boat was nearby to rescue the crew of 23 if the vessel did break up.

Meraiah Foley contributed reporting from Sydney, Australia.

Collision master bailed 03/30/10（TradeWinds）
The master of a Japanese bulker which collided with and sank an Indian Coastguard vessel last week has been released on bail.

The Filipino captain of the 28,300-dwt Global Purity (built 2009) was freed on Saturday after being charged on two counts of undue navigational care and endangering life and safety.

Sarigumba Savjeovillas was at the helm of the Panama-flagged ship when it collided with the patrol vessel ICGS Vivek (built 1989) at the Indira dockyard near Mumbai port on Tuesday.

A gash opened up on the patrol boat - which was on its way to undergo repair work - and it subsequently sank.

A paltry INR 25,000 ($555) is reported to have been paid to secure 51-year-old master Savjeovillas’ release.

After the collision a formal complaint was lodged with port police and two separate enquiries were initiated by the port authority and Directorate General of Shipping.

The Global Purity is listed on various databases as owned by Japan’s Mitsui Soko. It has P&I cover with Britannia Steamship.

By Eoin O'Cinneide in London

鳴門海峡衝突　中国人船長回避策取らず１０分以上前に日進丸確認 03/31/10（徳島新聞）

　鳴門市沖の鳴門海峡で貨物船同士が衝突し２人が行方不明になった事故で、マーシャル諸島船籍の「ＯＵＴＳＡＩＬＩＮＧ（アウトセーリング）９」（２９２６トン）が、衝突した広島県江田島市の会社所有の「日進丸」（１９９トン）に気付いていながら回避措置を取っていなかったことが３０日、徳島海上保安部の調べで分かった。保安部は回避措置を取らなかった理由について、業務上過失往来危険と業務上過失傷害の両容疑で送検したアウトセーリング９の中国人船長徐（シィ）海波（ハイボ）容疑者（６３）らから事情を聴いている。

　　保安部によると、徐容疑者はアウトセーリング９の操船を指揮し鳴門海峡を北上中、南下してきた日進丸を衝突の１０分以上前に確認。そのまま進めば衝突の危険があったにもかかわらず進路と速力を変えず、日進丸と衝突した。徐容疑者は回避措置を取らなかったことを認めているという。

　保安部は、徐容疑者が衝突前に日進丸に気付いていたことから、見張りに問題はなかったとみている。アウトセーリング９の装備にも故障などの不具合はなかった。

　日進丸も事前にアウトセーリング９に気付いていたが、どのような回避措置を取ったか分かっておらず、増山博士船長（４８）＝長崎県平戸市＝のけがの回復を待って、事情を聴く。

　徐容疑者の送検容疑は、２８日午前０時１０分ごろ、大鳴門橋から南へ１キロの海上で、操船を指揮する立場にありながら船舶を安全に運航する注意義務を怠り、日進丸と衝突。日進丸の増山船長にけがを負わせたとしている。

　保安部などは日没まで、行方不明となっている日進丸の千原伸也１等航海士（３７）＝熊本県上天草市＝と堀金幸治機関長（５９）＝松山市＝を捜索したが、見つかっていない。

　保安部によると、流出した重油は見られなくなった。

鳴門海峡衝突、２人の捜索続行　事故原因調査始める 03/29/10（徳島新聞）

　鳴門市沖の鳴門海峡で２８日未明に貨物船同士が衝突し、「日進丸」（１９９トン）が沈没した事故で、徳島海上保安部などは２９日午前、行方不明となっている乗組員２人の捜索を続けた。正午現在、２人は見つかっていない。保安部は関係者から事故当時の状況を聴くなど、本格的な原因調査に乗り出した。

　早朝から保安部の巡視船艇など１３隻、海上保安庁などのヘリ２機と航空機１機が出動し、捜索や流出した重油の処理に当たった。捜索は大鳴門橋の南北約１３キロ、東西約６キロの範囲で行っている。巡視船による早朝の調査で、大鳴門橋南側の日進丸の沈没現場近くから油流出は続いていたが、２８日に見られた北側には広がっていなかった。

　保安部は、日進丸と衝突したマーシャル諸島船籍の「ＯＵＴＳＡＩＬＩＮＧ（アウトセイリング）９」（２９２６トン）の船長について、中国人のシィ・ハイ・ボさん（６３）と発表。船長や中国人乗組員から事情を聴いている。業務上過失往来危険容疑を視野に、両船の回避措置に問題がなかったかを中心に調べる。

　沈没した日進丸の引き揚げは今後、専門家とともに検討する方針だが、現場は潮の流れが速く困難が予想されるという。

　保安部によると、事故は２８日午前０時１５分ごろ、大鳴門橋の真下で発生。日進丸の左舷とアウトセイリング９の船首が衝突した。日進丸１等航海士の千原伸也さん（３７）＝熊本県上天草市＝と機関長の堀金幸治さん（５９）＝松山市＝が行方不明になっている。