The KD Pendekar of the Royal Malaysian Navy sank off the coast of Johor on Sunday. Photo: X/NavyLookout
A fast-attack craft belonging to Malaysia’s navy sank off the coast of Johor over the weekend after a suspected collision with a submerged underwater object.
The KD Pendekar experienced “severe flooding” due to a leak that was first detected in the engine room at around noon on Sunday, the Royal Malaysian Navy said in a statement.
Despite the crew’s best efforts to control and stabilise the vessel, it was completely submerged by 3.54pm, the navy said.
“Efforts to salvage the ship are still under way,” the navy said, adding that it sank about 2 nautical miles (3.74km) southeast of Tanjung Penyusop.
The navy confirmed that all 39 crew members were rescued before the ship went under, with no reported injuries. The sailors were transferred to the nearby KD Sultan Ismail naval base in Tanjung Pengelih.
A special investigation board has been established to determine the exact cause of the catastrophic leak. Environmental monitoring teams have also been deployed to the site.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the navy urged the public to refrain from speculation, pledging to provide accurate updates from official channels.
The KD Pendekar, a Handalan-class fast attack craft commissioned into the fleet on July 27, 1979, is one of four ships in the class that were built by Sweden’s Kalskrona Varvet shipyard.
Measuring 43.6 metres in length, the vessel was armed with a Bofors 57mm main gun, a 40mm secondary gun, and Exocet anti-ship missiles.
It had been on an operational assignment at the time of the incident.
Despite efforts to stabilise the vessel, it was completely submerged by 3.54pm on Sunday, the navy said. Photo: X/NavyLookout
Malaysia’s navy commended the swift action of the maritime community for the successful rescue of all 39 crew members before the ship was fully submerged.
Its also extended its thanks to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the police for their swift response and support during the incident.
BEIJING (AP) -- A powerful explosion set off a fireball on a container ship loaded with hazardous goods at a major port on China's Pacific coast, state media and authorities said Friday.
Surveillance camera video posted online by state broadcaster CCTV showed a huge burst of white smoke followed by an orange and yellow fireball that dispersed debris and completely engulfed containers stacked at least three high.
No injuries were reported from the explosion and the ensuing fire at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, which is just south of Shanghai and one of the largest in the world. A container on the docked ship is believed to have exploded, CCTV said.
An aerial photo posted by the broadcaster showed black smoke rising from a stack of containers at one end of the ship and from an area on the dock. The rest of the ship and its containers appeared undamaged.
The Zhejiang Province Emergency Management Administration said the ship was loaded with Class 5 hazardous materials, but it did not say what they were.
A shipping accident approximately 10 kilometers from Manggis, off Bali’s eastern shore, claimed the lives of 5 crew and insured scores more on Wednesday, 07 August 2024.
As reported by NusaBali.com, when it caught on fire at 3:00 am, MV Elisabeth Satu, a petroleum tanker, had just taken on its cargo of bulk petroleum and was one hour into its delivery voyage destined for the Port of Badas on Sumbawa Island in NTB.
According to Rizky Wulandari, a Master’s Mate 1 (Mualim 1) on board the MV Elisabeth Satu (IMO Registration: 9805128), the tanker fire began at 1:18 am on Wednesday with an explosion on the port (left) side of the 90-meter-long vessel’s crew mess. Shortly thereafter, another large explosion and fire occurred in the engine room, rendering the tanker unmaneuverable.
The vessel’s Captain, Muhamad Haris Al Razak, said: “There were explosions, and then the ship lost all power (blackout). We immediately called for assistance from the operations post at Tanjung Mangis.”
Joko – Oiler
Ismail – Oiler
Riski – 4th Machinist
Syahlan – Oiler
Faturahman – Machinist cadet
Another 15 crew members were injured in the fire. Twelve crew members (3 females and 9 males) were treated at the Graha Bakti Hospital in Klungkung for minor injuries. Nine of the twelve were treated on an outpatient basis and released as outpatients.
Three other crew members with severe burns, over 80% of their bodies were warded at Bali’s main general hospital, RSUP Prof Ngoerah Denpasar. The crew members in grave condition and under treatment in Denpasar are:
Muhamad Saiful (44), with burns over 48% of his body and additional injuries to his respiratory tract, was warded in the Burn Unit of the Hospital.
Fadli (32), with burns over 4% of his body and additional injuries to his respiratory tract, was warded in the Burn Unit of the Hospital.
Edwin Pratama (39), with burns over 39.5% of his body and additional injuries to his respiratory tract, was initially treated in the Emergency Ward of the Hospital.
Only two members of the entire crew, including the Captain, were reported as unscathed.
Responding to the distress call, two tug boats were dispatched to the anchored ship. Evacuation commenced at 11:00 am and was conducted from a safe distance of 300 meters from the shores at the village of Bugbug. Due to the remaining high temperatures in the engine room, rescue team members encountered difficulties evacuating the mortal remains of deceased crewmembers from the engine room. All bodies were finally removed from the ship at 12:30 pm.
Police from the Karangasem Precinct, Air and Water Police (Polisi Air), and representatives from the Police Forensic Lab have boarded the vessel anchored off Gili Tepekong, investigating to identify the cause of the explosion and fire.
The 90-meter tanker KM Elisabeth Satu was built in 2016 with a 2,938 gross tonnage.
tanker fireIndonesia authorities report 5 crewmembers died of burns (Karangasem Police)
Indonesian authorities are investigating after receiving a report of explosions and a fire aboard an interisland tanker overnight off the island of Tepekong near the eastern tip of Bali on the Java Sea. The final count appears to be five crewmembers killed, three severely burned, and 12 others with lesser injuries. There was a total of 21 crewmembers aboard.
The Karangasem Police received reports of the fire aboard the tanker Elisabet Satu (3,639 dwt) at around 0300 local time. Fireboats and an evacuation crew were sent to assist the Indonesia-registered oil product tanker. The vessel was built in 2016 and operated by a local company. Reports said it was transporting fuel oil.
“Suddenly there was an explosion and the ship went black,” the captain told the police. “We immediately asked for help.”
One survivor said the first explosion appeared to have come from the accommodation area of the vessel and going to investigate found several bodies lying on the deck. Going to the bridge, he found the helmsmen suffering from burns and lying on the deck.
Shortly after, there were reports of a second explosion followed by a fire in the engine room. Some reports are saying the vessel grounded after losing power.
The police report that five crewmembers, oilers and an engineer, died of their burns. Three others were taken to a hospital with burns over 80 percent of their body. The remaining 12 crewmembers were taken to another hospital with reports there injuries were less severe.
The survivors are being interviewed. The police said they were not yet able to determine the cause of the explosions and fire.
MANILA, Philippines — Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla announced that the provincial government is preparing criminal cases against the owner of the fuel tanker MT Terranova that sank in Bataan and caused an oil spill that reached coastal communities in the province.
“We will file charges against the owner of the tanker so we could claim damages for what happened to our coastal areas in Cavite,” Remulla told an assembly of affected fishermen during a relief distribution in Noveleta town on Saturday.
“We are creating a plan so that everyone who was affected, every resident who had problems due to the oil spill, will receive proper compensation from the shipowner,” Remulla said.
The video of the distribution event and Remulla’s speech was posted on social media by Cavite-based journalists who recorded it.
MT Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, sank in the waters off Limay town in Bataan on July 25, during the onslaught of Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi).
The vessel was chartered to carry the fuel from Limay to Iloilo City by SL Harbor Bulk Terminal Corp., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corp., the largest conglomerate in the country.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported that the oil that leaked from the tanker has spread across the waters off provinces surrounding Manila Bay, including Cavite, adding it has been working round the clock to contain the spill.
Incidentally, SL Harbor Bulk Terminal Corp. was also the chartered carrier of MT Princess Empress that sank in the waters off Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28 last year while loaded with some 800,000 liters of industrial fuel. The incident, considered the first marine environmental crisis under the Marcos administration, caused a massive oil spill that affected coastal areas and thousands of fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas, both of which are within the Verde Island Passage (VIP), as well as those in Antique and Palawan provinces.
Known as the “center of global shorefish biodiversity” due to the high densities of marine resources, the VIP is a 1.14-million-hectare marine ecosystem located off the coastlines of Batangas, Romblon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro provinces.
State of calamity
Last Wednesday, the Cavite provincial government declared a state of calamity in the cities of Cavite and Bacoor and the municipalities of Noveleta, Rosario, Kawit, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon and Ternate affected by Terranova’s oil spill.
A declaration of a state of calamity allows the concerned local governments to quickly access emergency funds and implement relief operations for affected residents.
Remulla prohibited the catching and selling of all marine products from the affected areas to prevent oil contamination.
An estimated 352,179 residents in the coastal barangays of Cavite were affected by the oil spill, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
“Some 25,145 fisherfolk were also affected with an estimated loss of income amounting to P17,952,775 per day and predictably in 22 days, a total of P394,961,064,” the RDRRMC said in a report.
On July 27, another tanker, the MTKR Jason Bradley, also capsized due to bad weather in the waters off Bataan.
Days later, on July 31, another vessel, the MV Mirola 1, which was carrying diesel oil, ran aground in shallow waters off the coast of Bataan’s Mariveles town, causing the ship to tip over.
The PCG said it was on the lookout for possible oil slicks from MV Mirola 1.
Class suit
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Friday that a class suit was being eyed against those responsible for the three recent maritime mishaps in Bataan.
“We’re looking into the angle of class suit already against the owners, and others who may be responsible for this,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary told journalists.
The DOJ has tasked the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel investigation into the incidents.
Maersk has confirmed the fire is still 'smouldering' on board its time-chartered, 5,500-TEU box ship Maersk Frankfurt (source: Indian Coast Guard/LinkedIn)
by Jamey Bergman
Maersk and the vessel’s flag state, Panama Maritime Authority, have confirmed the death of a crew member in the conflagration on board 2024-built Maersk Frankfurt
In another update, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said its firefighting and pollution operations in the conflagration on board Maersk’s late-model containership Maersk Frankfurt remain underway, some 10 days after the vessel caught fire.
The ICG has named the vessel response Operation Sahayata, which means ’help’ in Hindi.
"On the 10th day of Operation ’Sahayata,’ IndiaCoastGuard continues firefighting and pollution prevention efforts for Maersk Frankfurt, 50 (nautical miles) nm South West of New Mangalore. Five ICG Ships, two helicopters, and one Dornier aircraft have been deployed over last 10 days," the ICG said in a post to social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
"1200 kg of dry chemical powder airdropped. Vessel owners DPA have hired a specialized salvage agency to manage firefighting and disposal efforts. ICG has facilitated the embarkation of five salvors. Tugs Albattros 5, Maha Wewa, and ETV Water Lily are on the scene. Tug Creative-I is expected today, and AHTS Valiant will arrive by 30 Jul 24. ICG will continue to assist salvors till arrival of all their vessels. Despite challenging conditions, the situation is under control, and our sensitive coastline is safe."
24 July
The ICG said it is entering its sixth day of firefighting on board the recently launched Maesk-chartered container ship Maersk Frankfurt.
"ICG firefighting [operations] to make safe Maersk Frankfurt enters Day 06. Sporadic fire in smouldering containers being tackled by Indian Coast Guard ships. 200 kgs dry chemical powder airdropped at [location] of fire by an ALH helicopter. ICG’s efforts are being gradually augmented by shipowners," the ICG posted on X (formerly Twitter).
On 23 July, the ICG said in a post it continued "firefighting operations in extreme monsoon conditions, successfully dousing major fires aboard".
ICG vessels Samudra Prahari and Sachet have been leading firefighting efforts, with support from tugs Albattros 5 and ETV Water Lily. SMIT Salvors have had an initial team on board the distressed vessel, the ICG reported.
22 July
An AP Moller-Maersk box ship that entered service in May 2024 is burning off the coast of India after an explosion and fire that has claimed at least one life.
"The newly built container ship Maersk Frankfurt suffered an explosion that caused a fire while navigating the Arabian Sea," The Panama Maritime Authority, the governing entity of the Panama Ship Registry, where the vessel is flagged, said in a statement on 22 July.
The PMA said the operator of 5,500-TEU Maersk Frankfurt, listed as AP Moller-Maersk in vessel valuation company VesselsValue’s records, had confirmed at least one death on board, with a body in the ship’s "lashing bridge" that is "impossible to reach... because of the flames".
Maersk confirmed the fatality in an email, saying "It is with deep regret that the ship managers have confirmed the passing of one of the crew members following the fire incident. The rest of the crew members are safe and accounted for. The vessel owner and ship managers are in touch with the crew and are ensuring all possible support is extended to them."
The PMA said Indian authorities are attempting to bring the fire under control, with Maersk also confirming the deadly fire has not yet been completely doused.
"We can confirm a fire was reported on board one of our time-chartered vessels, Maersk Frankfurt, around 14:30 IST on 19 July 2024 while the vessel was sailing from Mundra [India] to Colombo [Sri Lanka] off the western coast of India. The crew members immediately responded and initiated firefighting on board the vessel. Additional support to fight the fire was requested from the Indian Coast Guard, and it promptly responded to the request," Maersk said in a statement.
"Firefighting efforts continue today [22 July] with the support of the Indian Coast Guard. While no visible flames are being reported from the vessel, smouldering from containers continues. Owners have engaged with a salvage company, and specialised firefighting experts are on their way to board the vessel and extend their support to the situation. The vessel is reportedly in stable condition, with all machinery, steering and navigational equipment fully operational. At the moment, we are unable to confirm the extent of the fire’s impact on the cargo. We remain in constant touch with the vessel owner and ship managers."
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) released a statement on 20 July, saying it had "suppressed" the fire in the vessel’s bow section, with "heavy smoke continu[ing] to emanate".
"Unfortunately, the fire has reignited in the midship area," the ICG said.
Three ICG vessels are "actively engaged in fire-fighting operations," alongside a coast guard aircraft, which is providing aerial reports on the vessel’s condition, aided by a helicopter that is also evaluating the "feasibility of deploying dry chemical powder (DCP) bags" for further fire-fighting efforts.
"Coast Guard District Headquarters No 11 (Goa) is arranging the provision of DCP bags and balls to aid in fire-fighting operations. The specialised pollution control vessel Samudra Prahari is being deployed to the scene to provide further assistance. At present, there is no requirement for the evacuation of the crew," the ICG said on 20 July.
"The master of the vessel has indicated that anchoring is not feasible due to the inaccessibility of the forecastle area, which has been compromised by melting containers, posing significant risks to the crew. The ICG remains committed to ensuring the safety of the crew and the vessel while mitigating the impact of this incident on maritime safety and the environment. Continuous monitoring and response efforts are underway to bring the situation under control," the ICG said.
M/T TERRANOVA at Cebu City. This picture was taken last August 1, 2018
Ship's Particulars
Name Of Vessel TERRRANOVA
Official No. 00-00001279
Type of Service TANKER
Name of Operator SHOGUN SHIPPING CO. INC.
Place of Registry MANILA
Year Built 2010
length 63.8 m
breadth 12.2 m
depth 3.7 m
loa 63.8
draft
Gross Register Tonnage 498.13
Net Register Tonnage 292.57
(UPDATES) A PHILIPPINE-FLAGGED tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on Thursday, authorities said, as they raced to contain a spill that stretched out for more than three kilometers.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to assess the impact of the oil spill, which the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) warned could be the biggest in the country's history.
The MT Terra Nova was heading for the central city of Iloilo when it capsized in Manila Bay, nearly seven kilometers off Limay municipality in Bataan province, near the capital, in the early hours.
RESCUED CREW This handout photo taken on July 25, 2024, received from the Philippine Coast Guard, shows the rescued crew of oil tanker MT Terra Nova receiving first aid aboard Coast Guard ship Melchora Aquino off Manila Bay. AFP PHOTO
The vessel went down a day after heavy rains fueled by Typhoon Carina and the seasonal monsoon lashed Manila and surrounding regions.
An oil spill stretching several kilometers has been detected in the busy waterway, and the PCG is preparing to deploy floating barriers to contain the slick.
Last major spill harmed reefs, marine life
Balilo later said the oil tanker sank at a relatively shallow depth of 34 metres, based on an initial assessment, and raised the possibility that its fuel oil cargo could be siphoned off by special ships in a delicate operation that could take about a week.
"Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial and political impacts," Balilo said.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the vessel was causing a massive oil spill in the area where it sank.
He said PCG personnel were able to immediately respond within 30 minutes after a distress call was made by the crew of the oil tanker.
"Unfortunately, five minutes after the distress call was sent, the tanker started to sink," Bautista said.
Bautista said 16 of the 17 crew members had been rescued from the stricken vessel.
A search was underway for the missing crew member, but Bautista said strong winds and high waves were hampering these efforts.
Four of the crew were receiving medical treatment.
Bautista said several private shipping companies were also assisting.
An investigation into the cause of the incident was underway, but coast guard spokesman Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said the vessel had not broken rules on heavy weather sailing.
A public storm warning signal had not been raised when the MT Terra Nova departed Limay and "therefore did not violate rules and regulations," Balilo said in a statement.
At a briefing earlier Thursday, Balilo said authorities were "racing against time" to contain the spill and stop more fuel from leaking.
He warned that if all the oil in the tanker were to leak, it would be the biggest spill in Philippine history.
"There is a big danger that Manila will be affected, even the shoreline of Manila, if the fuel will leak, because it is within Manila Bay," Balilo said.
Thousands of fishermen and tour operators are dependent on the waters for their livelihoods.
A photo released by the coast guard showed the MT Terra Nova almost entirely submerged in rough seas.
It has since sunk 34 meters below the waves, which Balilo said was "considerably shallow" and meant siphoning the oil out of the tanker "can be done quickly."
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gavan said they had set a target of seven days to complete the siphoning.
FIRST RESPONDER Philippine Coast Guard responds to a maritime incident involving Philippine-flagged Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova that capsized and eventually submerged 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at around 1:10 a.m. on July 25, 2024. PHOTOS BY PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
An oil slick stretching about 3.7 kilometers was being carried by a "strong current" in an easterly, northeasterly direction, the PCG said in a report.
Marine environmental protection personnel have been mobilized to help contain the slick.
"It will definitely affect the marine environment," Balilo said, describing the amount of oil on the ship as "enormous."
One of the worst oil spills in the Philippines was in February 2023, when a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off the central island of Mindoro.
A Philippine oil tanker sank in Manila Bay early Thursday after encountering huge waves, leaving a crewman dead and 16 others rescued in a late-night operation by the coast guard. The force was also assessing whether the vessel was leaking oil — in what could be a major spill — that could reach the bustling capital.
The tanker Terra Nova left Bataan province en route to the central province of Iloilo with about 1.4 million litres (370,000 gallons) of industrial fuel oil stored in watertight tanks when it got buffeted by huge waves and took on water. The crew struggled to steer the tanker back to port but it eventually sank shortly after midnight, coast guard spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said, citing statements from surviving crew members.
The sinking followed days of monsoon rains, exacerbated by a passing offshore typhoon, that caused landslides and floodings across the archipelago, leaving at least 22 people dead and displacing more than half a million people.
An aerial survey spotted an oil spill about 3.7 kilometres long near the rough seawaters where the tanker sank but that may have come from the fuel intended to power the tanker's engine, not the much greater amount of fuel the Terra Nova was carrying as cargo, Balilo said.
A handout photo released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the tip of MT Terra Nova above the waterline in Manila Bay on Thursday. The tanker was travelling between provinces with over one million litres of industrial fuel when it got rocked by huge waves (Philippine Coast Guard/Reuters)
The coast guard ship BRP Melchora Aquino was in the waters where the tanker sank, more than six kilometres from Bataan province's coast, to search for the last missing crewman, whose body was later retrieved from the waters, and to carry out an initial assessment of the tanker's fuel oil cargo, Balilo told an online news conference.
He said that the coast guard was bracing to contain a possible major oil spill.
"There's a big danger that Manila would be affected, its shorelines, if the fuel leaks because this happened within Manila Bay. It's part of the contingency we're preparing for," Balilo said. "The effect on the marine environment would not be good."
Last major spill harmed reefs, marine life
Balilo later said the oil tanker sank at a relatively shallow depth of 34 metres, based on an initial assessment, and raised the possibility that its fuel oil cargo could be siphoned off by special ships in a delicate operation that could take about a week.
"Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial and political impacts," Balilo said.
He did not say if the tanker has been located on the sea floor and did not specify the status of its fuel oil cargo.
Finally, we re-painted the repaired area to ensure aesthetics and restore the original appearance of the vessel
The spill was the latest challenge for the country, which has seen deadly monsoon rains this week exacerbated by Typhoon Gaemi. Here, a resident holds on to a street sign on Wednesday in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Balilo compared the magnitude of the possible oil spill to one caused by the sinking of another Philippine oil tanker, which was carrying much less fuel oil cargo, in February last year off Oriental Mindoro province north of Manila. That spill took about three months to contain, caused massive damage to coral reefs and mangroves in a region known for its rich biodiversity, and affected tens of thousands of fishermen and beach resorts in at least six provinces.
Manila's shoreline is a major tourism and business hub, where the main seaport, a historic public park, the U.S. Embassy and upscale hotels and restaurants are located. Land reclamation efforts are also underway in the bay to create space for entertainment and tourism complexes with casinos. The bay for years has been notorious for its pollution but famous for its picturesque sunsets.
The United States and Japan helped the Philippines with the last major oil spill's massive cleanup and rehabilitation efforts.
The ship management of the ill-fated MT Terranova confirmed on Thursday that the missing crew member was found dead in Limay, Bataan.
“With a heavy heart, MT Terranova’s ship manager, Portavaga Ship Management, discloses that the reported missing crewmember of the ill-fated oil tanker had been found lifeless late afternoon on Thursday, July 25, 2024,” Leonelle Infante, spokesperson of the company, told reporters in a Viber message.
Infante said the body of the crewmember, Second Mate Alvin Llandelar, 40 years old and married, was recovered by Philippine Coast Guard personnel on board BRP Melchora Aquino.
“The ship management company truly regrets the demise of one of its exemplary marine officers. 2/M Llandelar has been with the company since August 2023, but prior to this he had sailed on board international ships for quite several years,” she further stated.
Infante said the company is now in contact with the late marine officer’s bereaved loved ones for the proper transport of the cadaver to Manila.
“It also assured them that they would receive the due death benefits due him at the soonest possible time,” she said.
MT Terranova, owned by Shogun Ships Co. Inc., carrying 1.4 metric tons or 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil sank at around 1 am on Thursday, in which the PCG saw two nautical miles in the vicinity waters of Limay.
Based on the investigation, there was no Public Storm Warning Signal raised over Bataan when MT Terra Nova departed from Limay, Bataan carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, hence, it did not violate rules and regulations pertinent to the movement of vessels during heavy weather, Balilo said.
“The vessel sank 34 meters deep which is considerably shallow. Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial, and political impacts,” Balilo added.
As of press time, the PCG is working with several Oil Spill Response Organizations that expressed their intention to assist in the ongoing oil spill response operations.
Oil companies, like Petron, the PCG Auxiliary, and local government units also volunteered to help.
Malaysia officials provided the first details on the July 19 incident in which the Hafnia Nile and a Chinese VLCC impacted revising their earlier statements that the Chinese vessel had attempted to flee after the fire. While saying they believe the Chinese vessel Ceres 1 was at anchor, and that they are developing the information, they said at this time they could not disclose why the incident happened.
According to their preliminary assessment, the tanker Ceres 1 registered in São Tomé & Principe, was at anchor near the eastern terminus of the Singapore Strait approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Malaysia. They reported that the Ceres 1 had anchored “due to technical problems encountered.” Further, they reported that the Ceres 1 has communication and navigational issues.
They did not elaborate, but they said the Hafnia Nile, which AIS signals show traveling at 14 knots, was “trying to avoid the Ceres 1 but failed.” The port side of the product tanker impacted with the starboard side bulbous bow. Fires broke out on both vessels after the impact with Maritime Malaysia reporting the starboard side anchor chain on the Ceres 1 was cut off due to the impact.
Initially, the Malaysian authorities said the Ceres 1 had left the area with the assistance of two tugs. Yesterday they reported that they had been told by the vessel’s operators that the two tugs were there to cool the Ceres 1 and assist with the firefight. They implied the two tugs were not strong enough to stop the vessel from drifting and it was later located about 20 nautical miles from the scene of the incident. The engine of the tanker was reported to be “not fully functional” causing the vessel to be swept away by the current.
Reports have cited the Ceres 1 as operating in the shadow fleet to avoid oil sanctions. Reports indicate the vessel carries Iranian oil and undertakes ship-to-ship transfers to hide the cargo’s origins. The vessel has also been reported to turn off and spoof its AIS signal while questions remain over the ownership of the vessel.
The Ceres 1 was not loaded when the accident occurred but the Hafnia Nile still has 300,000 barrels of naphtha aboard. They believe the cargo is undamaged and that the oil sheen near the vessel is coming from a bunker tank damaged by the impact.
The Hafnia Nile is “severely burnt and its superstructure was compromised, but its cargo intact,” said the Director General of Malaysia’s Marine Department, Mohamad Halim Ahmed. “Our priority is to ensure it remains afloat and can be moved safely.”
Both vessels remain under detention by Maritime Malaysia. Salvors have been appointed for the Hafnia Nile and a containment boom was placed around the vessel. Negotiations are ongoing with the managers of the Ceres 1 for the appointment of salvors.
Photo courtesy of Coast Guard Administration's Southern Branch July 28, 2024
Kaohsiung, July 28 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on Sunday that 59 people have been rescued from six of the eight cargo ships that ran aground in southern Taiwan due to Typhoon Gaemi, with 29 people on the other two freighters still waiting to be rescued.
A total of eight freighters ran aground along the coast of Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County when Typhoon Gaemi hit Taiwan over the past few days, according to a statement issued by the CGA's Southern Branch.
As of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, the coast guards had rescued 59 people from six ships, while 29 individuals on the other two freighters, who have not yet been rescued, are safe and "waiting for further arrangements," the CGA said.
The latest rescue operation took place on Saturday evening when coast guards saved all eight crew members from the cargo ship "BASIA," which ran aground 0.5 nautical miles southwest of Donggang Township in Pingtung County, the CGA added.
Photo courtesy of Coast Guard Administration's Southern Branch July 28, 2024
As weather conditions improved, a drone was dispatched on Saturday and two more are set to be deployed on Sunday to monitor the waters and shores around the cargo ships stranded along the coasts of Tainan and Kaohsiung for any drifting containers or oil spills, according to the statement.
Regarding the Tanzania-registered freighter "FU SHUN," which is believed to have sunk 16 nautical miles off Kaohsiung, the captain has been confirmed dead, four crew members have been rescued, and four others remain missing, the statement read.
The CGA said that the Fifth Maritime Patrol Flotilla received a report on Saturdayevening about a body found near the Chung-yun Fishing Harbor in Kaohsiung's Linyuan District, but the retrieval operation of the body has been delayed due to a large amount of driftwood surrounding it, preventing personnel and vessels from approaching and confirming the deceased's identity.
(By Chang Yi-lien and Sunny Lai)
Enditem/cs
This map shows the locations of the eight cargo ships that ran aground in southern Taiwan, and the sunken Tanzania-registered freighter "FU SHUN" off Kaohsiung, due to Typhoon Gaemi. Graphic courtesy of Ocean Affairs Council July 26, 2024
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Eight ships have run aground in southern Taiwan after Typhoon Gaemi, leaving 79 stranded, with rescue crews saving 51 people from five of the vessels as of Saturday (July 27) morning.
The remaining individuals are safe aboard the other three ships. They will not be evacuated until tugboats arrive, per CNA.
Since 12:45 p.m. Friday (July 26), multiple vessels were deployed to search for nine people missing from the Fu-Shun ship, which sank Friday (July 26) afternoon, the Coast Guard Administration Southern Branch stated in a press release Saturday. One person was found dead and four were rescued, per Ocean Affairs Council (OAC).
A DV aircraft arrived at the scene 7:45 a.m. Saturday. All 16 crew members from two grounded cargo ships, the Keta and the Dopphin, were evacuated.
Authorities received a report Friday evening from the captain of grounded vessel Hong Sheng88 and Taiwan’s National Rescue Command Center. The captain requested assistance in evacuating the crew.
The ship lost steering control Thursday (July 25) afternoon due to Typhoon Gaemi, said the Coast Guard Administration. It drifted toward the shore, eventually running aground on a beach 0.1 nautical miles (185 meters) northwest of Xingda Harbor, Kaohsiung.
A team led by Captain Ma Liyun (馬力耘) coordinated with Kaohsiung City Fire Department personnel to carry out a shore-based rescue operation. All eight Chinese crew members were rescued.
Malaysia says it has intercepted a large oil tanker that was involved in a collision with another ship before fleeing the scene and turning off its tracking system.
The coastguard says it has located and detained Ceres I, sailing under the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe, and two tugboats that were towing the vessel off the country's eastern coast.
The ship had collided with the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile on Friday, causing both ships to catch fire.
Officials in Singapore say all crew members from both ships were rescued.
Malaysia's coastguard said Ceres I had left the location immediately after the collision that caused a blaze and injured at least two crew members.
The incident happened about 55km (35 miles) north-east of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
The head of Malaysian coast guard's search and rescue team, Zin Azman Mohamad Yunus, has not explained why the São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged tanker tried to flee, but added that further investigations would be carried out.
The authorities in Singapore said after around 40 crew members were rescued from the blazing ships, around 26 of them remained on Ceres I to tackle the fire.
The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, was reportedly carrying naphtha, a highly flammable type of petroleum.
The cause of the collision is still unclear. Singapore maritime authorities said ship traffic in the busy waterway was unaffected.
However, Malaysian coastguard officials found an oil spill covering about 17 sq km (6.5 sq miles).
Ceres I is a large crude oil carrying supertanker. Some reports suggests it could be part of a so-called 'dark fleet', carrying oil from countries under sanctions.
A market intelligence service, S&P Global Commodities at Sea, says the ship, operated by China's Shanghai Prosperity Ship Management, has previously carried Iranian crude, which is subject to US sanctions.
The mystery around Friday’s casualty involving a Hafnia chemical tanker and a VLCC near the eastern side of the Singapore Strait deepened as Malaysia confirmed it was searching for the Chinese-owned crude oil tanker. Overnight on Sunday, Malaysian Maritime apprehended that tanker as it was being towed, along with two tugboats.
Malaysian officials told a press event on Saturday that they had numerous concerns about the VLCC Ceres 1, which is registered in São Tomé and Príncipe. During the briefing, officials said, “So far, Malaysian Maritime has not been able to confirm the actual condition of the ship and crew of MT Ceres 1 since it is not contactable.”
At approximately 0120 Sunday, July 21, one of Malaysian Maritime’s patrol boats detected and overtook the Ceres 1 at a position 28 nautical miles northeast of Tioman Island, which would be as much as 80 nautical miles north from the position where the two vessels made contact on Friday morning. The offshore patrol vessel KM Pekan also took into custody two tugs that were towing the damaged VLCC.
Malaysia had dispatched two offshore patrol boats to the area on Saturday only to discover that the Ceres 1 was no longer at the scene of the accident, which was approximately 25 nautical miles east of Malaysia. The officials accused the Ceres 1 of turning off its AIS signal and moving from the scene of the accident. They were also using an amphibious aircraft aloft to search for the tanker, which they believed was still likely in Malaysian waters.
“Information and review of MRSC Johor Bahru together with the Malaysian Maritime Department also found the IMO registration number of the concerned ship is suspicious and the actions of the concerned ship leaving the incident area is also doubtful,” Malaysian Maritime said in its statement.
On Friday, a Singapore-flagged supply ship, Dolphin 1, responded to the distress calls and a call for assistance from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and rescued 14 crewmembers from the Ceres 1 shortly after the incident. Two of the crewmembers were airlifted by the Singapore Air Force to a hospital for further treatment while the reports said 26 crewmembers remained aboard the Ceres 1 to continue the firefight.
The Ceres 1 has widely been linked to the sanction-busting trade in Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil. Ownership is reported as a company in Hong Kong, but reports said its P&I insurer was unclear. Iran’s Energy Ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying it did not have oil aboard the Ceres 1 contradicting prior reports that the vessel was loaded with as much as 2 million barrels of crude. Images of the tanker from Malaysia’s video show the Ceres 1 riding high, confirming it had offloaded before the incident.
Analysis of the tracking data shows the Hafnia Nile traveling at 14 knots before the casualty. AIS transmissions from the Ceres I appear to suggest that it was at anchor, based on data provided by Pole Star, but its traffic history showed irregularities consistent with extensive spoofing, according to Lloyds Intelligence.
The Hafnia Nile was abandoned with its crew taken to Singapore. Hafnia in a statement said two crewmembers had suffered minor injuries. The fire aboard the product tanker which was loaded with 300,000 barrels of naphtha according to Kpler and LSEG caused extensive damage on the port quarter of the vessel.
Malaysia reports it has also spotted an oil slick in the area of the impact. They are now leading the investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
PRESTIGE FALCON (IMO: 9533218) is a Oil Products Tanker,sailing under the flag of Comorosが2023年に爆発事故を起こしたSHENG YOU 229であれば、転覆してもなんらおかしくないと思う。新しい所有者もかなり安い値段で購入したのではないかと思う。推測なので事実は知らない。
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Search teams rescued nine crew members, mostly Indians, and recovered the body of another as they searched the Arabian Sea waters for others after an oil tanker capsized this week off the coast of Oman, Omani state media said Wednesday.
The tanker, the MT Prestige Falcon, capsized late Monday about 25 nautical miles (29 miles) southeast of Oman's Ras Madrakah area, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Agency.
The cause of the capsizing and the condition of the tanker and its cargo were not immediately known. But the Indian Navy, which sent a warship to help in the search operations, said the rescue teams were dealing with rough seas and strong winds.
In a statement, the Navy said eight Indians and another crewmember had been rescued, and that Indian and Omani teams were continuing to search for others. The crew included 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans, it said. Oman's state news agency reported that, along with the nine rescued, one other crewmember had died.
The 117-meter-long (383-foot) Prestige Falcon, flying the flag of Comoros, had been carrying a cargo of oil products from the port of Hamriya in the United Arab Emirates to the Yemeni port of Aden, according to the shipping-tracking website marinetraffic.com.
A Comoros-flagged oil tanker with 13 Indians and 3 Sri Lankans as crew members has capsized off the coast of Oman, the country's Maritime Security Centre said on Tuesday. The oil tanker, Prestige Falcon capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah. This is near the Omani port of Duqm.
The Maritime Security Centre said in a post on X, “A Comoros-flagged oil tanker capsized 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah. SAR Ops initiated with the relevant authorities.”
The tanker was heading to the Yemeni port of Aden, according to shipping data by LSEG.
The vessel is a 117-metre-long oil products tanker built in 2007, LSEG's shipping data showed. Such small tankers are generally deployed for short voyages.
Earlier, on November 27, a cargo ship carrying 14 crew members including Indian crew members, sank off the coast of Lesbos island in Greece due to high-speed winds. The Comoros-flagged ship Raptor, which was travelling from Dekheila, Egypt to Istanbul carrying a load of salt, sank 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) southwest of Lesbos. (ANI)
The tanker Sheng You 229 caught fire in the Gulf of Tonkin at around 2:30 PM Beijing time on Tuesday.
The tanker was loaded with 6,858 tons of diesel oil. The 7,056 dwt vessel caught fire in the cargo tanks area and it spread aft to the rest of the ship.
Qinzhou Maritime Authorities responded, sending search and rescue vessels as well as the coast guard. Current reports suggest that of the 17 crew on board, 15 were rescued while the remaining two are still missing.
The fire on the tanker was extinguished yesterday evening. Reports are saying that the fire was most probably triggered by an explosion.
According to data provided by VesselsValue, the unlucky 2007-built tanker is owned by Shenzhen Haifa Shipping.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said Hafnia has discovered "light oil sheens near Hafnia Nile" after a collision with suspected ’dark fleet’ VLCC Ceres I
The MPA said it is working with Hafnia to find a "safe location to transfer Hafnia Nile’s naphtha cargo, and towage plans for repairs," which will both need to have MPA approval.
"As part of the towage plan, Hafnia will arrange for repairs, containment and clean-up of the assessed localised seepage [of oil from the vessel]," the MPA said.
An additional tug with deepsea towing capacity arrived on site on 23 July 2024, joining four other tugs equipped with oil response and firefighting capabilities.
Hafnia Nile is currently about 100 km away from mainland Singapore. On Sunday (21 July), VLCC Ceres I and the two tugs that were towing the vessel were intercepted by a Malaysian patrol vessel after fleeing the scene of a collision with Hafnia LR1 tanker Hafnia Nile.
22 July
Malaysia Coast Guard has reported a suspected ’dark fleet’ VLCC, with an alleged habit of tampering with its AIS system and an alleged history of trading sanctioned oil, has been apprehended after leaving the scene of a collision near Singapore with Hafnia LR1 tanker Hafnia Nile that sparked fires on board both vessels.
The Malaysia Coast Guard said its offshore patrol vessel KM Pekan stopped 300,000-dwt VLCC Ceres I and the two tugboats that were towing the vessel some 28 nautical miles northeast of Tioman Island on 21 July, a distance of more than 100 km from the scene of the collision.
"Maritime Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Marine Department, will carry out a further investigation of the incident with the rediscovery of the Ceres I ship," the Malaysia Coast Guard said.
The organisation also reported "some traces of oil spillage at the scene" of the tanker fires, at 25 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Balau, Malaysia, an area that lies outside of Singapore’s port boundary.
"An aerial survey of the Bombardier CL 415 MP amphibious aircraft belonging to Maritime Malaysia, which conducted an aerial survey yesterday, found some traces of oil spillage at the scene of the incident. The Department of Environment was also informed about this discovery and will carry out further monitoring in the near future," the coast guard said.
Hafnia released an updated statement on the collision, too, saying that while pollution levels around its vessel are "still undetermined", the fire on board Hafnia Nile seems to have abated and a towing connection with a tugboat has been established.
"A first assessment on board the vessel confirms that no visible flames are observed. A marine chemist will board the vessel later today for a further assessment. Pollution levels around the vessel are still undetermined. Currently, discussions are underway with Malaysian authorities to safely move the vessel as well as co-operation with Singapore as the flag state on investigations," Hafnia said.
While the investigation into the cause of the incident in the South China Sea continues, Hafnia said its 22 crew from Hafnia Nile are in good condition after evacuating from the tanker and being rescued.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) reported on Friday (19 July) that 26 of the Ceres I crew had remained on board the VLCC to continue fire-fighting operations, while 14 were picked up by Singapore-flagged supply vessel Dolphin 1, which was in the vicinity of the incident. Two of those VLCC crew were evacuated by a Singapore air force helicopter and were receiving medical attention at Singapore General Hospital, the MPA said.
Singapore Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre, the Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force, the MPA, the Malaysian Coast Guard, and other authorities and parties have been involved in the ongoing operations following the incident.
Photo of smoke from fires on board VLCC Ceres I and LR1 tanker Hafnia Nile following a collision near Singapore (source: Republic of Singapore Navy/Instagram)
19 July
Singapore’s MPA said it was alerted on the morning of 19 July 2024 to fires burning on board two vessels off Singapores’ coast. According to AIS transponder signals, the vessels, Singapore-flagged LR1 tanker Hafnia Nile and São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) Ceres I, collided about 55 km northeast of Pedra Branca.
The location of the collision is within Singapore’s official maritime search and rescue (SAR) region, according to the MPA, which sent requests to passing vessels to aid in SAR operations and despatched a Singaporean naval vessel and air force helicopter to the scene of the incident.
The MPA has reported recovery of all 62 crew members on board the two fire-stricken vessels.
"All 22 crew on board Hafnia Nile and 40 crew on board Ceres I are accounted for," the MPA said. The Singaporean naval vessel, formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme, was in the vicinity of the incident and picked up 16 crew from Hafnia Nile. The remaining six crew, who were in Hafnia Nile’s liferaft, were picked up by a Malaysian government vessel and transferred to RSS Supreme.
"All Hafnia Nile crew are en route back to Singapore and are receiving medical attention on board RSS Supreme," the MPA said.
A statement from the vessel’s owner and operator, Hafnia confirmed the incident happened at 06:15 hrs LT on 19 July 2024 and that the business is "actively co-ordinating" with the Singapore Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and has mobilised a salvor to support the ongoing response efforts.
The company gave similar details with regard to the crew involved and said they have no information with regard to potential oil spill pollution from the incident.
"There is no information on pollution as of now. Our primary focus at this time is the well-being of our crew members, as well as addressing any potential environmental impact resulting from this incident. All relevant authorities have been notified and are responding promptly to the situation. A full investigation will be conducted to determine the root cause," Hafnia said.
Assisting in the recovery of crew from Ceres I, Singapore-flagged supply vessel Dolphin 1, which was in the vicinity of the incident, picked up 14 crew from Ceres I. Two of the crew were evacuated by RSAF’s helicopter and are currently receiving medical attention at Singapore General Hospital, according to MPA.
"The remaining 26 Ceres I crew are currently conducting fire-fighting operations on board [the VLCC]. Salvage and fire-fighting assets have been arranged by both vessel owners to support the fire-fighting efforts and subsequent towage of the vessels to safety," the MPA said, noting shipping traffic in the area has not been affected by the incident.
Maritime tracking platform MarineTraffic has posted an AIS-based visualisation of the movements of the two tankers in the hours leading up to the collision on social media platform X (see below). The visualisation shows Hafnia Nile sailing at between 12 and 15 knots for at least two hours before apparently striking the stationary VLCC Ceres I. Hafnia Nile’s AIS-based destination was listed as Kashima, Japan. Ceres I has a listing of having been ’at anchor’ since 11 July outside of Singapore’s port limits, to the east of the port (denoted by the acronym EOPL).
While the 2017-built, 74,000 dwt LR1 vessel Hafnia Nile’s owner is a public company, Hafnia, and the vessel is operated within the Hafnia LR tankers pool, Ceres I has a more difficult to trace recent history. According to the Equasis shipping database, the 2001-built, 300,000-dwt VLCC was bought in 2019 by a China-based company, Shanghai Prosperity Ship Management and has not had an inspection since its initial inspection under the Tokyo MoU in 2019, at which point it had five deficiencies listed. Among the deficiencies were two for fire safety breaches, one for inadequate life saving appliances, one for inadequate safety of navigation and one for problems with the vessel’s steering gear.
Reporters at Lloyd’s List have collated internal information and defined Ceres I as part of the so-called ’dark fleet’ of vessels trading in sanctioned cargoes. The vessel, they say, has been used to facilitate trades in sanctioned Iranian crude oil through storage and ship-to-ship transfers. When tankers in the dark fleet engage in transfers of oil to evade sanctions detection, they often do so within relatively close proximity to major trading lanes, turning off their AIS transponders or spoofing the location shown to other vessels and authorities.
The International Maritime Risk Rating Agency lists Ceres I under a ’Critical’ rating, which it defines as being at "high risk for severe incidents/casualties".
The Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire near Singapore on Friday.Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency via AFP - Getty Images
SINGAPORE — Two large oil tankers were on fire on Friday after colliding near Singapore, the world’s biggest refuelling port, with two crew members airlifted to hospital and others rescued from life rafts, authorities and one of the tanker owners said.
Singapore is Asia’s biggest oil trading hub and the world’s largest bunkering port. Its surrounding waters are vital trade waterways between Asia and Europe and the Middle East and among the busiest global sea lanes.
The Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I were about 55 km (34 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on the eastern approach to the Singapore Straits, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
The 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres I were all accounted for, the MPA said, which was alerted to the fire at 6:15 a.m. (2215 GMT)
The owner of Hafnia Nile confirmed the vessel was involved in a collision with Chinese owned Ceres I.
Photographs released by the Singapore Navy showed thick black smoke billowing from one tanker and crew being rescued from life rafts and flown to hospital.
The environmental authorities in neighbouring Malaysia said they had been told to prepare for potential oil spills.
Norway’s Gard, one of Hafnia Nile’s insurers, told Reuters it was too early to assess the environmental impact.
“We are supporting our member as they are dealing with the incident,” Gard said.
Navigational traffic had not been affected, although the status of the vessels or any pollution was unknown at present, a spokesperson at the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) said.
“No aerial surveillance has been conducted so far,” the spokesperson said.
“Salvage and fire-fighting assets have been arranged by both vessel owners to support the fire-fighting efforts and subsequent towage of the vessels to safety.”
The IMO spokesperson said a salvage team had been appointed and was en route to the area.
The 74,000 deadweight-tons capacity panamax tanker Hafnia Nile was carrying about 300,000 barrels of naphtha, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and LSEG.
The Ceres I is a very large crude carrier supertanker, which ship-tracking data last showed was carrying around 2 million barrels of Iranian crude.
“The Ceres I has been a boat that has gone dark many times over the years,” said Matt Stanley, head of market engagement EMEA & APAC with Kpler, referring to when vessels switch off their AIS tracking transponders.
Stanley said the last AIS signal the vessel transmitted around March indicated it was carrying Iranian crude, which the U.S. has tried to curtail, including imposing sanctions on ports, vessels and refineries involved in the trade.
“She was at anchorage (on Friday). We can be fairly sure that she was carrying Iranian crude and was going to China,” Stanley said.
Shadow fleet risks
S&P Global said in an April report that China buys around 90% of Iran’s crude exports, often at discounted prices.
The Ceres I has not moved since July 11, according to LSEG shipping data.
The area Ceres I is anchored in is known to be used by so-called dark fleet ships for the transfer of Iranian oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, principal analyst at Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
“The Ceres I has repeatedly been involved in transferring or shipping Iranian oil in breach of U.S. sanctions,” she said.
Shipping sources have said the tanker was also involved in transporting Venezuelan oil, which is also under U.S. sanctions, to China in recent years.
The China-based owner of the Ceres I could not immediately be reached for comment. China has repeatedly said it is opposed to unilateral sanctions.
Up to 850 oil tankers are estimated to operate the shadow fleet transporting oil from countries such as Iran and Venezuela as well as Russia, which has multiple restrictions on its oil exports.
Shipping industry officials have warned that safety issues are growing because of the ageing and unregulated vessels.
The Ceres I vessel was built in 2001 while the Hafnia Nile was built in 2017, shipping data showed. It was unclear who provided insurance for the Ceres I, which was not covered by top tier providers like Gard, according to other data.
MV. CHUN WEI (IMO: 9565120) is General Cargo that was built in 2009 and is sailing under the flag of Belize. On 30th Aug 2023, the vessel collided with a fishing boat resulting in significant damage and deformation on the hull side.
Ship Owner required our team to cut out the damaged areas and then install, replace them.
According to the instructions of the ship owner, Nice Sea Company Limited has arranged manpower, equipment, and materials to carry out the necessary procedures.
After she berthing, the whole repair team and all necessary equipment were immediately come on board. All engineers and workers are equipped with full labor protection. Before starting work, the whole team had a safety meeting with Capt to unify a repair plan and ensure labor safety.
fter the safety meeting our team began to inspect, identify, and remark on the damaged and deformed locations and then proceeded to remove them
Next, we proceeded to install scaffolding cut the metal plates and fabricated them according to the shape and size as the drawing to assemble into place the damaged parts including: Port side, upper deck, Air conditioning inside areas, engine room and Toilet inside
Finally, we re-painted the repaired area to ensure aesthetics and restore the original appearance of the vessel
With the tireless efforts of our team of technicians, supervisors and equipment, we completed work with the satisfaction of Capt, Chief, Officer and the shipowner. That is to repair damaged parts and restore the ship to its original state, ensure safety and schedule for ships.
「大型船に取り付けた約10mのタラップごと地面に落ちたか」となっているが、船に取り付けられている「Gangway」なのか、修繕ドックに入った船に陸側からいけるタラップなのか詳細が書かれていない。昔、南日本造船で作業者達が最大搭載人員を超えてタラップの乗って、タラップが落ちて死亡者が出た。今回はどのように事故が起きたのだろうか?船に取り付けられている「Gangway」でも、修繕ドックに入った船に陸側からいけるタラップでもフルハーネスなんか使わない。それだけ安全と思う。ただ、造船所、場所や担当によって詳細な対策は違うし、タラップの状態も錆びたり、錆びて穴が空いている部分がある場合がある。
船に取り付けられている「Gangway」は造船所とは関係ないが、腐食して穴が空いていたり、腐食して固定部分が目視でかなり腐食しているケースはあるが、個人的に知る限りでPSC(国土交通省職員)が不備として指摘したケースを知らない。国際条約では、安全に船から陸に行ける事が要求されている。
10/2021—Means of embarkation and disembarkation from ships in port(Australian Government Australian Maritime Safety Authority)には「SOLAS Chapter II-1 provides requirements for accommodation ladders and gangways. SOLAS Chapter IX gives effect to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code which requires procedures, plans, and instructions for key shipboard operations. Providing safe access to a vessel is considered a key operation under the ISM Code and should be addressed in the vessel’s safety management system.」と書いてある。
Safe Access Accommodation Ladders(Forth Ports)
Accident prevention on board ship at sea and in port (2nd edition). Code of practice ILO(IMO)の「8.Safe access to ship」にも記載されている。
タラップが造船所から船への移動のために使用するものであれば、上記は適用されない可能性は高い。日本の国内法が適用されるのではないかと思う。
Crew members of the cargo ship MV Dali can return home under an agreement in which the lawyers will be able to interrogate them on the ongoing inquiry into the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
U.S District Judge James K. Bredar confirmed the settlement during a hearing on June 20, 2024.
None of the MV Dali crew members has been permitted to leave the United States since March 26, 2024, when the MV Dali lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns.
The collision killed six construction workers and temporarily halted most maritime operations through Baltimore’s major port.
The new agreement allows the crew to return to their home nations if they stay available for depositions.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said in a statement late on Saturday that the oil leak from the vessel had been contained, and that the oil that escaped from the damaged tanker had been treated with dispersants.
But due to tidal currents, it said the treated oil had landed along shorelines including at Sentosa and other southern islands, a nature reserve and a public beach park. Sentosa, which attracts millions of visitors annually, houses one of Singapore’s two casinos, golf courses and Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park.
Part of the beachfront at the public park and at the nature reserve have been closed to facilitate clean-up efforts, it said. The Sentosa beach will remain open to the public but sea activities and swimming are prohibited.
The decision comes after attorneys urged on June 18, 2024, that the crew members from India and Sri Lanka be prohibited from leaving the United States.
The attorneys believed that the crew possessed crucial knowledge about the events leading up to the bridge collapse and that if released, they would not return for interrogation.
Attorney William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr., who represents claimant Damon Davis, emphasized the litigation’s complexity and possible high expenses, claiming it could be the most costly maritime lawsuit in history.
Seven attorneys represented the federal government during the hearing, while two lawyers for Dali’s owner refused to comment as they left the courtroom.
Lawrence B. Brennan, an experienced admiralty lawyer, stated that such legal disputes are not uncommon, emphasizing the need to finish depositions as soon as possible to avoid lengthy litigation.
Darrell Wilson, the spokesperson for the ship’s owner, stated that while some crew members were set to leave, others would stay to assist with the inquiry.
He could not say when the ship would leave Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia, to undergo significant repairs.
The Dali had been trapped in the wreckage for about two months while workers removed debris from the Patapsco River.
The crew remained on board even as explosive demolitions were used to remove the bridge trusses from the ship.
The ship’s owner and manager, two Singapore-based corporations, have filed a plea to restrict their liability for the catastrophe.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FBI conducted investigations and discovered that the ship experienced power failures before departing the Port of Baltimore, with another outage occurring soon before the bridge fell.
These agencies are still investigating the reason for the electrical failures.
According to emails in court documents, eight crew members had been scheduled to return home after being examined by Department of Justice investigators.
The Justice Department did not object to their departure.
According to Andrew Middleton of Apostleship of Sea, who spoke with the sailors, the crew’s feelings were mixed, with some relieved to be home and others concerned about their homecoming.
Baltimore officials evaluating compensation for the event first rejected the Dali owner’s pleas to limit damages to $43 million.
The legal litigation continues, and while some crew members are likely to head home, the ship remains at a nearby container terminal, with new sailors on their way.
The shipping route near Baltimore closed for 11 weeks due to the catastrophe, reopened last week.
The Greek-owned MV Tutor is the second confirmed sinking of a ship after the MV Rubymar was struck and submerged in March
The MV Tutor after an attack by a Houthi exploding boat in the Red Sea on June 12. Photo: Houthis Media Centre via EPA-EFE
A bulk carrier sank days after an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels believed to have killed one mariner on board, authorities said early Wednesday, the second-such ship to be sunk in the rebel campaign.
The sinking of the MV Tutor in the Red Sea marks what appears to be a new escalation by the Iranian-backed Houthis in their campaign targeting shipping through the vital maritime corridor over the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The attack comes despite a months-long US-led campaign in the region that has seen the US Navy face its most-intense maritime fighting since World War II, with near-daily attacks targeting commercial vessels and warship.
The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned-and-operated MV Tutor sank in the Red Sea, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said in a warning to sailors in the region.
The MV Tutor sinking in the Red Sea. Photo: Etat-Major des Armées via AP
“Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location,” the UKMTO said. “The vessel is believed to have sunk.”
The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the sinking. The US military as well did not immediately acknowledge the sinking and did not respond to requests for comment.
The MV Tutor came under attack about a week ago by a bomb-carrying Houthi drone boat in the Red Sea. It was also struck an “unknown airborne projectile”.
John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Monday that the attack killed “a crew member who hailed from the Philippines”.
The Philippines has yet to acknowledge the death, but the man who had been aboard the M/V Tutor has been missing for over a week in the Red Sea, which faces intense summertime heat.
The use of a boat loaded with explosives raised the spectre of 2000’s USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaeda on the warship when it was at port in Aden, killing 17 on board.
The Cole is now part of a US Navy operation led by the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea to try and halt the Houthi attacks, though the rebels continue their assaults.
The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing four sailors. They’ve seized one vessel and sunk two since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.
A US-led air strike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.
In March, the Belize-flagged Rubymar carried a load of fertiliser sank in the Red Sea after taking on water for days following a rebel attack.
The Houthis have maintained their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK. However, many of the ships they’ve attacked have little or no connection to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians there, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.
A recent report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency acknowledged container shipping through Red Sea has declined by 90 per cent since December over the attacks. As much as 15 per cent of the world’s maritime traffic flows through that corridor.
An oil spill caused by a dredger boat hitting a stationary cargo tanker has blackened part of Singapore’s southern coastline, including the popular resort island of Sentosa, and sparked concerns it may threaten marine wildlife as a clean-up operation was under way Sunday.
The Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima struck the Singaporean fuel supply ship Marine Honor on Friday. It damaged the cargo tank on Marine Honor, which leaked oil into the sea.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said in a statement late on Saturday that the oil leak from the vessel had been contained, and that the oil that escaped from the damaged tanker had been treated with dispersants.
But due to tidal currents, it said the treated oil had landed along shorelines including at Sentosa and other southern islands, a nature reserve and a public beach park. Sentosa, which attracts millions of visitors annually, houses one of Singapore’s two casinos, golf courses and Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park.
Part of the beachfront at the public park and at the nature reserve have been closed to facilitate clean-up efforts, it said. The Sentosa beach will remain open to the public but sea activities and swimming are prohibited.
On Sunday, workers in orange suits were seen scooping up sand in a clean-up operation at an empty beach in Sentosa. Black water washed up on the oil-stained shore.
Authorities have deployed 18 watercraft for the clean-up efforts and laid close to 1,500 metres (5,00 feet) of container booms, temporary floating barriers to trap the oil spill.
“More will be laid over the next few days to prevent further spread of oil onto the shore, and facilitate the recovery of the trapped oil off the affected shorelines and lagoons to prevent them from going back to sea,” the Maritime and Port Authority statement said.
Conservationists and biologists are monitoring the full extent of the damage on marine and wildlife.
Local conservation group Marine Stewards reportedly said there were photos of dead fish, otters and kingfishers covered in oil slick.
Group founder Sue Ye told local the Straits Times newspaper that oil spills smother and suffocate fish, birds and marine animals that have to go to the surface for air, such as turtles and dolphins.
Damage to the bunker tanker Marine Honour (MPA Singapore)
On Friday, a dredger struck a bunker tanker at the port of Singapore, leading to a substantial spill.
At about 1440 hours local time, the Van Oord-operated dredger Vox Maxima allided with the berthed bunker tanker Marine Honour at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, tearing open its hull amidships on the starboard side. In a statement, Van Oord said that both vessels were safely anchored and stable, and that no personnel injuries have been reported.
One cargo tank aboard the bunker tanker was damaged, releasing fuel oil into the water, and the tidal current carried the slick towards shore. Oil reached the waterfront at the island of Sentosa, a popular resort and casino destination for vacation-goers. Beachfront areas at Sentosa, the Labrador Nature Reserve, Southern Islands are affected, and selected areas have been closed off as cleanup gets under way. Professional work crews are already removing oiled sand from the waterfront.
On the water side, more than a dozen vessels are engaged in containment and cleanup efforts, and the Singaporean authorities are using dispersants to minimize the effects of the pollution on land. More than a kilometer of boom has been laid out, and more will be installed in the days to come in order to keep the oil off the beaches, Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said in a statement. Additional boom will be used to keep the oil that has reached shore from drifting back out to sea again.
Local environmental NGO Marine Stewards advised that the best thing for local residents to do is to stay away from the oil for health and safety reasons. The organization is collecting public reports on wildlife impacts, and more than a thousand people have signed up to help survey the shoreline, according to partner NGO Friends of the Marine Park. Limited wildlife oiling has been reported.
The MPA has set up an operations center for its staff and personnel from key stakeholders, and an official investigation is expected soon.
"We are cooperating with the investigations by the authorities. As long as investigations are ongoing, we can’t provide any further substantive information in the interests of the investigations," Van Oord said.
MPA, PSA and the bunker vessel company have activated oil spill response craft to the location. The oil spill clean-up operation is currently in progress.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (14 June) was notified of an allision between a Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour.
The incident took place alongside a container vessel berthed at the Pasir Panjang Terminal at about 2:20pm (SGT), said MPA.
Both vessels are currently anchored safely, are in stable condition, with some damage above the waterline. There is no injury reported.
Bunker fuel from the damaged cargo tank on board Marine Honour spilled into the water. The affected cargo tank has been isolated and the spill contained.
MPA, PSA and the bunker vessel company have activated oil spill response craft to the location. The oil spill clean-up operation is currently in progress.
There is no impact to navigational safety and berthing operations at PSA remain unaffected.
The Iranian-backed Houthis launched anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden, striking the MV Verbena, a Palauan-flagged bulk cargo carrier owned by Ukraine and operated by Poland.
The vessel transporting wood building materials from Malaysia to Italy incurred severe damage and fire on board.
One crew member was severely injured and was later airlifted off the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) to a partner force ship for medical treatment.
The strike is the second against MV Verbena in the last 24 hours, following a similar attack with three missiles.
The ongoing Houthi operation has seen an increase in attacks against international vessels in the area, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) condemned the actions, threatening regional stability and mariner safety across the international waters.
In the last two days, the Houthis have also targeted the Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor, forcing it to take on water near Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah.
The attack on Tutor, consisting of Filipino crew members, provoked outrage from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
Despite claims of casualties, Greek officials have not confirmed any deaths.
US Centcom responded by destroying one air defense sensor, one uncrewed surface vessel (USV), two patrol boats, and one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) launched by the Houthis.
These actions were taken to reduce immediate dangers to US forces, coalition forces, and commerce vessels in the area.
The Houthi campaign negatively impacted global shipping, increasing delays and expenses throughout supply networks.
Since November, the group has launched numerous strikes, vowing that operations will continue until the Gaza crisis is resolved.
Despite this, Centcom has pledged to hold the Houthis accountable and weaken their military capabilities.
As the situation worsens, the international community remains on high alert, with efforts focused on safeguarding freedom of passage and protecting critical maritime routes for global trade.
What you need to know:
The Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) director general Sheikha Mohamed told The Citizen on Wednesday, May 22, that the authority received an official notice on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from the Romania Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) concerning the tragedy
Dar es Salaam.Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) has confirmed that a cargo ship flying the Tanzania flag, named Mohammad Z, tragically sank off the coast of the Black Sea in Romania.
The vessel was transporting a significant load of grains, oil, and oil products at the time of the incident.
The unfortunate event has raised concerns about maritime safety and the impact on trade routes.
ZMA director general Sheikha Mohamed told The Citizen on Wednesday, May 22, that the authority received an official notice on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from the Romania Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) concerning the tragedy.
“The Tanzanian-flagged ship cargo has indeed sunk in Romania; we are currently waiting for a full report from MRCC. While eight Syrians and three Egyptians have been rescued, three other people on board are missing,” she said.
Declining to provide more details, she said more information would be provided after receiving detailed reports from Romania.
“Currently, we are making follow-up on the incident, and once we are done, the public will be communicated through an official statement,” she said.
Earlier reports indicated that the incident occurred on May 18, leaving three of the 11 crew members missing. Nine of the crew members were Syrians and two were Egyptians.
However, reports didn’t establish the cause of the incident.
Furthermore, according to reports, eight people were rescued by a nearby commercial vessel, Michel, which is coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), with three Syrians missing.
The Black Sea is vital for the transportation of grain, oil, and oil products, and it is shared by several countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.
On May 18, the cargo ship MOHAMMED Z (Tanzanian flag), owned by a Turkish shipowner, sank approximately 25 miles off the coast of Sfantu Gheorghe, a port located in northeastern Romania near the border with Ukraine.
Out of the 11 crew members, 8 were rescued by the nearby cargo ship MICHAEL (Comorian flag), which was part of the rescue operation coordinated by Romanian authorities. Despite ongoing search efforts, the remaining 3 crew members, all Syrians, are still missing.
Initially, the possibility of a collision with a drifting mine was considered, as this threat persists in the Black Sea region. Since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war, drifting mines have posed a constant hazard, prompting neighboring countries to intensify their demining efforts.
On the morning of May 19, upon arriving at the port of Varna, the cargo ship MICHAEL underwent an inspection which revealed hull deformations on its bow. The captain confirmed that an accident with the MOHAMMED Z had occurred, which may ultimately have led to the sinking of the latter vessel.
By focusing on these maritime incidents, we can better understand the risks faced by cargo ships navigating through volatile regions. The situation highlights the importance of vigilance and the continuous need for maritime safety measures.
A ship navigating under the Tanzanian flag sank on Saturday morning, May 18, in the Black Sea, after colliding with another 26 nautical miles from the Romanian coast. Eight crew members were rescued, but three were reported missing. At the time this news was published, the searches were suspended.
The representatives of the Constanţa Court of Appeal Prosecutor's Office announced that the sinking of the ship under the Tanzanian flag in the Black Sea, near Sfântu Gheorghe, occurred following a collision with another ship, which is now in the Bulgarian port of Varna.
The magistrates have initiated criminal proceedings in the case for destroying or damaging a ship or its cargo and for "the act of the commander or another crew member who, after a navigation accident, orders or causes the ship to leave the scene," according to News.ro.
Romania’s MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) coordinated rescue operations when the alert came in, at around 4:00 AM. The sunken ship, Mohammed Z, flying the Tanzanian flag, had 11 crew members on board, 9 Syrian and 2 Egyptian nationals. Eight of them were rescued by the commercial ship Michel, with which the Mohammed Z collided.
Romania’s Defense Ministry assigned several ships and a helicopter to the area to help with the search.
"An IAR 330 Puma helicopter, from the Romanian Air Force, is conducting a sea search mission on Saturday, May 18, for possible survivors of the sunken ship's crew, which sank this morning in the Black Sea," representatives of the Ministry of National Defense stated, cited by Digi24.
The eight sailors rescued arrived at Constanța Port and underwent medical evaluations. Only one was transported to Constanța County Hospital for further medical investigations due to his injuries.
Witnesses say that the sunken ship did not yield priority to the other, leading to the collision.
"There was a collision between two ships. One of the ships sank, and the other ship, after helping to rescue some of the crew members, headed towards Bulgaria, specifically to the port of Varna,” said Mihaela Elena Mergeane, Chief Prosecutor of the Constanța Court of Appeal.
The Michel was seen in the port, with visible damage to the front. "The obligation of the ship, since it was outside the territorial sea of the Romanian state, is to report this event at the first port of call. This port of call for the ship was Varna,” added Cosmin Dumitrache, ANR Director.
The three sailors who went missing are all Syrian nationals.
After the investigation is completed, the eight surviving sailors will be repatriated to their home countries.
The Dali was a 'clearly unseaworthy' ship with 'an incompetent crew', the city of Baltimore argued in a lawsuit filed Monday
Baltimore has sued the operators of the container ship that hit and destroyed one of the US city's main bridges last month, killing six people.
The city says the Dali was "clearly unseaworthy" and accuses its owners and manager of negligence.
The ship's Singapore-based owner and manager have already asked a court to limit their liability.
The region is reeling from the closure of its busiest maritime transit port after the span collapsed on 26 March.
"None of this should have happened," attorneys representing the Baltimore mayor and city council argued in a federal lawsuit.
The city is asking the US District Court of Maryland for a jury trial to hold the defendants fully liable.
Naming the Dali's owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and its manager, Synergy Marine Private Limited, the suit alleges the Francis Scott Key Bridge's collapse was a direct result of their "gross negligence, and recklessness, and as a result of the unseaworthiness of the Vessel".
On 1 April, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine petitioned the same federal court in Maryland to cap its responsibility for the incident.
Citing a pre-Civil War maritime law, the pair of companies estimated their liability for the vessel and the cargo's value at $43.6m (£35m).
Monday's court filing from the city of Baltimore rebuts that number as "substantially less than the amount that will be claimed for losses and damages arising out of the Dali's allision with the Key Bridge".
The path taken by the cargo ship - which was exiting the Port of Baltimore under the Key Bridge - is "no stranger to large freighters", the city's representatives wrote.
They said the vessel "had been experiencing an inconsistent power supply" that was either not investigated or not fixed.
"The Dali left port anyway, despite its clearly unseaworthy condition," said the lawsuit.
The filing also says the Dali was manned by "an incompetent crew that was inattentive to its duties" and "lacked proper training".
On Friday, port officials opened a third temporary channel for boats to enter and exit the corridor, but these channels can only sustain about 15% of pre-collapse commercial activity.
A fourth channel, that will allow most traffic back into the port, is expected to open by the end of the month.
Darrell Wilson, an attorney who represents Synergy Marine and is also handling media inquiries on behalf of Grace Ocean, told the BBC it would be inappropriate to comment on the litigation while federal investigations into the collapse were ongoing.
Six construction workers who were fixing potholes died when the bridge collapsed. Two of the bodies have yet to be recovered.
Workers are still extracting thousands of tonnes of debris from the water and from atop the stationary Dali, whose original schedule would have seen it arrive at a Sri Lankan port on Monday.
Apart from two of the ship's pilots, 21 crew members - almost all of whom are of Indian origin - remain on the ship. There is no timeline yet for when the crew will disembark or head back to sea.
The Hang Chau Tourist Express Boat after an accident on April 19, 2024 in which it was broadsided by a ferry. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Thanh
The tour guide on the tourist boat who was severely injured after it was rammed by a ferry in the Mekong Delta last week has died.
Ab Dol Ro Zak, 36, a Cham ethnic man, died Sunday at Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC, his family said.
Arrangements for transporting his body to An Giang Province in the delta for the final rites are being made.
Ro Zak was a guide on Hang Chau Tourist Express Boat that was returning with 42 tourists from Cambodia’s Phnom Penh to Chau Doc City in An Giang.
The collision on the Tien River, a branch of the Mekong, last Friday occurred because some barges blocked the boat pilot’s view, according to its owner.
It happened in Chau Doc around a kilometer from the Cambodian border, and two foreign tourists were also injured in the collision.
Ro Zak had his right arm severed and both legs broken.
The tourists, from France and Germany and aged 57 and 67, incurred leg injuries.
All three were taken to HCMC for treatment.
Despite emergency intervention, Ro Zak tragically passed away, leaving behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.
Fluent in English, Cham and Khmer and working as a guide on tours between Chau Doc and Phnom Penh, he was the primary breadwinner for his family.
Hoang Thi Minh Dang, a company that organizes tours using the Hang Chau vessel, said Saturday the pilot had all the necessary certificates and qualifications for the job, and over 10 years' experience.
Nguyen Khanh Hiep, director of the An Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said there would be an assessment of Hang Chau's operations, and any possible violations would be penalized.
Two foreign tourists and a Vietnamese tour guide were injured after a ferry broadsided a boat carrying 42 passengers on the Tien River in the Mekong Delta Friday evening.
The Hang Chau Tourist Express Boat vessel was coming from Phnom Penh in Cambodia when, at around 6 p.m, the collision occurred in Vinh Xuong Commune in An Giang Province’s Chau Doc City around a kilometer from the border.
The ferry rammed into the middle of the boat’s starboard/port side, causing a large part of the vessel to break off and many standing tourists to fall down.
The tour guide, 36, had his right arm cut off by a piece of metal and both legs broken.
Two men from Germany and France, aged 57 and 67, had their left legs broken.
All three were rushed to a local hospital.
A tourist boat that was broadsided by a ferry in An Giang Province on April 19, 2024. Photo by Tran Thanh
Que Chi, a ferry passenger, said the tourist boat had been traveling at a high speed before the collision. The captain had tried to slow down after noticing the approaching ferry, but was too late, he said.
Many passengers panicked after the collision and some burst into tears, he added.
Locals helped the captain remove the passengers out of the tourist boat, fearing the vessel could sink.
A person injured in the collision is rushed to hospital. Photo provided by a local resident
Bui Thai Hoang, a commune official, said the two foreign tourists were stable by Friday night after receiving emergency treatment.
The tour guide's condition is more serious and he has been transfered to a bigger hospital.
Hoang said the boat has been licensed for operating for more than 10 years and was running its registered route on Friday evening.
A foreign tourist injured in the boat collision. Photo providedby a local resident
According the boat operator's website, its vessels carry tourists every day, leaving Chau Doc for Phnom Penh at 7:30 a.m. and returning at 12:30 p.m. Each trip takes about 5 hours.
BALTIMORE (AP) — The owner of the massive container ship Dali, which caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, has initiated a process requiring owners of the cargo on board to cover some of the salvage costs.
The ship’s owner, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., made what’s known in maritime law as a “general average” declaration, which allows a third-party adjuster to determine what each stakeholder should contribute, according to company spokesperson Darrell Wilson.
The requirement is often invoked after maritime accidents so that the cost of saving a vessel or its cargo is shared among interested parties, Wilson said. In this case, it pertains to costs associated with refloating the Dali, which remains stuck with sections of the fallen bridge draped across its damaged bow.
Crews are working to remove some shipping containers from the Dali before lifting pieces of the wreckage and freeing the ship. They’re also working to clear debris from the Port of Baltimore’s main channel, which has been largely blocked for weeks, halting most commercial traffic through the major shipping hub.
“Over time, as the investigation continues and there’s more clarity about exactly what happened and who’s ultimately responsible, insurers themselves will start recuperating some of those losses,” she said.
A routine practice dating back centuries, the general average declaration marks the ship owner’s latest effort to minimize its financial responsibility in what could become one of the most expensive maritime disasters in history.
Grace Ocean and the ship’s management company, Synergy Marine Group, filed a petition soon after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability — another routine procedure for cases litigated under U.S. maritime law.
Six members of a roadwork crew plunged to their deaths in the collapse. Attorneys for some of their families and a survivor pledged to challenge that petition and hold the companies accountable.
One of the cargo owners, Mediterranean Shipping Company, announced last week that it was informed of the general average declaration by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which chartered the Dali. The declaration indicates the ship’s owner anticipates “extraordinary costs for which they expect contribution from all salvaged parties,” the company’s release said.
Officials have said the Dali and its cargo — about 4,000 shipping containers — will return to the Port of Baltimore once the ship is refloated.
The Dali departed Baltimore’s port early on March 26 laden with cargo destined for Sri Lanka. It lost power before reaching open water and struck one of the supports for Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the span to collapse into the Patapsco River. Police rushed to stop bridge traffic after a last-minute mayday call from the ship’s pilot, but couldn’t save the roadwork crew. Two of the victims are still unaccounted for.
Both the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting investigations into what led to the disaster.
Disputes over liability and the cost of claims could take years for insurers to resolve and result in billions of dollars in payouts.
The stern of the container ship Dali, which is owned by a Japanese businessman named Yoshimasa Abe.Credit...Pete Kiehart for The New York Times
By Jenny Gross, Michael Forsythe, Emily Flitter and Peter Eavis
Jenny Gross reported from London. Michael Forsythe, Emily Flitter and Peter Eavis reported from New York.
On the day the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed, President Biden said the federal government would pay the “entire cost” of rebuilding it, which some suggest could run to more than $1 billion. Washington will foot the bill so the bridge and nearby port can reopen “as soon as humanly possible,” he said.
The hope is that much of the cost will be recouped from insurers, but determining who is ultimately on the hook for the deadly disaster is set to become one of the messiest and most expensive disputes of its kind. Rebuilding the bridge, repairing the cargo ship that hit it and compensating companies for the disruption at one of the nation’s busiest ports may take years to resolve.
“We’re not going to wait,” said Mr. Biden, who plans to visit Baltimore on Friday to survey the damage.
The legal wrangling began this week when the shipowner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and the ship manager, Synergy Marine, both based in Singapore, filed a petition in U.S. District Court to limit their liability to $43.7 million. They cited an 1851 law that allows a shipowner to cap financial damages mostly to the value of a ship after a crash, if the owner is determined not to have been at fault.
Claims against the ship’s owner and manager must be filed to the federal court in Baltimore by Sept. 24, a judge said.
Experts in maritime law and insurance said determining liability was particularly complex because of the many parties involved, from shipowners in Asia to insurers in Europe to companies around the world that move goods in and out of Baltimore. Numerous lawsuits are expected, and the six deaths caused by the disaster add a grim layer of complications.
“You can’t just necessarily settle with one party and make it go away,” said Franziska Arnold-Dwyer, a senior lecturer in insurance law at Queen Mary University of London.
Investigators are still determining what caused such a catastrophic failure on the cargo ship, the Dali; why the massive vessel appeared to lose power and propulsion before hitting the bridge; and whether negligence was involved. The answers will have implications for who is liable for damage that may cost insurers and reinsurers up to $4 billion, according to industry experts.
“You’re looking at historic, record losses” for maritime insurers, said Sean Kevelighan, chief executive of the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group. The higher estimates could exceed the roughly $1.5 billion paid out after the Costa Concordia crisis in 2012, when 32 people were killed as the cruise ship ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio.
Losses are accumulating, with the Port of Baltimore, a top destination for car shipments, largely closed. Officials said this week that they had opened a channel around the wreckage for limited traffic. A full reopening of the port is expected in late May.
Very little is known about the owner of Grace Ocean, a Japanese businessman named Yoshimasa Abe, except that he is very wealthy.
Most of his known wealth comes from his fleet of more than 50 vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and refrigerated cargo ships. They are owned by two Singapore-based companies, Grace Ocean Private and Argosy Pte., that Mr. Abe controls through an offshore company. VesselsValue, which compiles shipping data, estimates that those ships, including the damaged Dali, are worth a combined $2.9 billion.
Shipowners often borrow large amounts of money to buy their fleets. There is little public information about Mr. Abe’s debts, but in 2010 Grace Ocean borrowed $250 million from Mitsui & Company, a Japanese trading firm.
Mr. Abe is also the majority owner of two Chinese shipyards on islands off the coast of Ningbo, according to Sayari and WireScreen, companies that compile and analyze corporate data. Combined, the two shipyards can repair more than 200 vessels a year.
It is unusual for foreign companies to control Chinese shipyards, especially in recent years as industry consolidation in the country has favored state-owned companies, said Matthew Funaiole, who has written about Chinese shipyards for the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “There’s really not much space for there to be foreign ownership,” he said.
Among the 68 member companies, schools and associations focused on ship repair that belong to the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, a trade group, three are foreign-owned shipyards, of which Mr. Abe has a majority interest in two.
Mr. Abe did not respond to a request for an interview or answer written questions about his business. “Out of respect for the investigation and the legal process we will not be making additional public statements,” Jim Lawrence, a spokesman for the Dali’s management company and for Grace Ocean, said in an email. He confirmed earlier that Mr. Abe owned Grace Ocean Investment Limited, a company based in the British Virgin Islands that owns both Argosy Pte. and Grace Ocean Private.
If the shipowner is found liable, its insurer, a mutual association called Britannia P&I Club, will cover the first $10 million of claims, which could include coverage for loss of lives, debris removal, property damage and cargo damage. The Dali was carrying products including paper, U.S. soybeans destined for China and some hazardous materials, according to Concirrus, a marine insurance data provider, and DG Global, an agricultural exporter with goods on the ship.
Beyond $10 million, the 12 clubs including Britannia that make up the London-based International Group of P&I Clubs, which collectively insure about 90 percent of the world’s oceangoing tonnage, would share the cost of claims of up to $100 million. For claims above $100 million, dozens of reinsurers will cover costs up to roughly $3 billion.
Officials said they have opened a channel around the wreckage for limited ship traffic, but a full reopening of the port is expected to take weeks.Credit...Erin Schaff/The New York Times
The $3 billion figure is so widely known that it could become a target for businesses making damage claims. “There are some reinsurers expecting the worst,” said Hugo Chelton, a managing director at Howden Re, a reinsurance broker.
The global reinsurance industry ended last year with $670 billion in capital, according to Aon, an insurance broker. Though the bridge damage promises to be costly, it is not likely to be among the largest payouts reinsurers have faced recently. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida in 2022, caused more than $50 billion in insured losses.
Sridhar Manyem, an analyst for AM Best, a ratings agency for insurers, said the potential losses from the bridge collapse did not seem large enough to do long-term damage to any insurers or reinsurers. “It should not affect their balance sheets,” he said.
While a significant share of the claims may be directed at the ship’s insurers, other businesses affected by the bridge and port closure could make claims on other policies to cover their losses, adding to the insured losses caused by the incident.
Scott Cowan, the president of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, the union representing Baltimore dockworkers, said on Tuesday that nearly 2,000 workers were still doing jobs at the port, like unloading cargo that arrived before the bridge collapsed.
Mr. Cowan said union leaders had asked for help from the federal and state governments. “The longer the channel’s closed and the longer we’re out, the bigger the problem is going to be,” he said. Many jobs at the port are considered daily hire jobs rather than full-time positions, so they will last only as long as work remains to be done.
Government funds for companies whose operations have been disrupted may not be fully recouped from insurers, said Oscar Seikaly, chief executive of NSI Insurance Group, an insurance broker.
The stern of the container ship Dali, which is owned by a Japanese businessman named Yoshimasa Abe.Credit...Pete Kiehart for The New York Times
In recent years, when Washington has stepped in with emergency aid after a commercial disaster, taxpayers have later largely recovered the costs, although the international scope of claims in the Baltimore bridge collapse will add complexity to the process.
Representative Dan Meuser, Republican of Pennsylvania, said he was outraged that Mr. Biden had immediately offered to use federal money to pay for the bridge’s reconstruction without considering other sources of funds, including from the owners and insurers of the Dali.
“Insurance payouts could potentially cover the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge without any taxpayer dollars being spent,” he said.
Robyn Patterson, a White House spokeswoman, said the responsible party or parties must be held accountable, but added, “We’re not waiting to get started on this critically important infrastructure project.”
Six construction workers were killed as they repaired potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge before it collapsed, and two were injured. Over $500,000 has been raised for the families.
Meanwhile, two massive crane barges are lifting debris out of the water and onto a barge. Even with the cleanup well underway, so many questions remain unanswered about the disaster in Baltimore. One of the big ones: Who’s going to pay for it?
The collapse of the Key Bridge could well become the most expensive marine insurance loss in history.
“Something in the ballpark of $2 to $4 billion,” said Nadja Dreff, senior vice president for North American insurance ratings at Morningstar DBRS.
Roughly 100 insurance companies are involved, Dreff said. The owner of the boat that crashed into the bridge has maritime insurance. Everyone who sent cargo has cargo insurance. The bridge itself may be insured, and the Port of Baltimore has insurance for business interruption.
For now, all of those insurance policies are likely going to pay.
“Over time, as the investigation continues and there’s more clarity about exactly what happened and who’s ultimately responsible, insurers themselves will start recuperating some of those losses,” she said.
Meaning the insurers will sue whoever’s fault it is and the insurance company behind them.
The Dali’s owner is Singapore-based Grace Ocean; the company that manages the ship is Synergy Marine. They’ve both filed a petition in Baltimore under a law from 1851 that lets them argue their liability should be capped at the value of the ship — $42.5 million, they say — if they weren’t aware of whatever issue caused the incident.
“I doubt the ship owner will be able to limit its liability,” said Martin Davies, a professor of maritime law at Tulane University Law School.
Filing that petition may not end up limiting the ship owner’s liability, but Davies said it does gather all claims filed against them into one place — Maryland — rather than having them scattered around the world. He said that’s a benefit in itself.
If a court does find that the ship’s owner knew or should have known there was a problem, blame will be directed at the company, but it won’t stop there, said Lawrence Brennan, an adjunct professor of admiralty and maritime law at Fordham University.
There can be third parties, he said, like a fuel supplier that provided defective fuel or a bridge owner that didn’t put up the right lighting.
“That’s what you look for, as many people as possible to share the responsibility financially,” he said.
The owners of the Dali container ship involved in the deadly collapse of a Baltimore bridge last week, after it crashed into the structure, have denied responsibility and are seeking to limit their legal liability.
Grace Ocean Private Limited, the ship’s owner, and the manager Synergy Marine Pte said in a federal court filing on Monday that they denied any fault or neglect of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that claimed the lives of six construction workers.
The companies are asking for exoneration from liability, but if they are held responsible in lawsuits, the companies are asking for a cap on any payout.
The joint filing, submitted in a Maryland District Court, seeks to cap the companies’ liability at roughly $43.6m.
“The [bridge collapse] was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on the part of [ship owner & operator], the Vessel, or any persons or entities for whose acts [ship owner & operator] may be responsible,” the filing stated.
The owners of the Dali have submitted a filing under theLimitation of Liability Act of 1851 to try and cap any payouts (AP)
“Alternatively, if any such faults caused or contributed to the [bridge collapse], or to any loss or damage arising out of the [bridge collapse], which is denied, such faults were occasioned and occurred without [ship owner & operator] privity or knowledge.”
The owner and operator of the Dali vessel submitted the filing under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, a piece of legislation that enables ship owners to limit their liability for certain claims to the value of the vessel and its cargo at the end of its journey.
The filing estimates that the vessel itself is valued at up to $90m and was owed over $1.1m in income from the freight. They also estimate that repair costs will be at least $28m and at least $19.5m in salvaging the ship.
Wreckage from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge rests on the cargo ship Dali (Getty Images)
A sum of $60m in emergency aid has already been approved by President Joe Biden’s administration last week, to begin the process of removing debris from the water.
In a news release, the US Department of Transportation referred to the funds as a “downpayment toward initial costs”.
The 300-metre-long vessel had a cargo of 4,679 containers when it lost power and collided with the bridge in the early hours of the morning on 26 March.
Construction workers were on the 1.6-mile-long bridge at the time of the collapse, with the structure falling into the Patapsco river below.
Two people were rescued shortly after, but six people, all construction workers, remained missing in the days after until two bodies were recovered from the disaster area submerged in the water.
Four people remain missing but have been presumed dead by authorities.
On April 1, 2024, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., as owner and manager of the M/V DALI, filed a Petition for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability in this Court. Petitioners also filed a Motion to Accept Interim Stipulation for Value and Stipulation for Costs and for the Entry of Restraining Order and Order for Issuance of Notice.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge was one of three river crossings.(Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
The owners of the ship at the centre of the Baltimore bridge disaster in the US had another vessel banned from Australian ports over unlawful exploitation of workers.
The Dali, a 300-metre container ship which accidentally destroyed a bridge, causing the presumed deaths of six people and blocking a major US trade route, is owned via a secretive tax haven company in the British Virgin Islands called Grace Ocean Investment Limited.
Another ship that belonged to the company was slapped with a six-month ban in 2021 for what the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said were "serious and shameful breaches" of maritime labour laws.
The operator of the Western Callao was forced to hand over about $40,000 in unpaid wages to 13 seafarers.
AMSA detained the same ship at Port Kembla in New South Wales in July 2020, finding the operator had unlawfully kept eight seafarers on board for more than 11 months.
Another of the company's ships, the Furness Southern Cross, had also unlawfully kept 10 seafarers on board for more than 14 months.
Days after its ban from Australian ports, the Western Callao was sold off by its owner.
The Dali is run by a different operator but owned via the same tax haven company.
The international union representing seafarers says the case of the Dali offers a glimpse into the "murky world" of global shipping where big players use tax havens and "flags of convenience" to evade regulatory scrutiny.
The collision in Baltimore on Tuesday, which triggered the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, was the Dali's second major accident in nine years at sea.
Built in 2015 and originally registered in the Marshall Islands, the Dali was at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium a year later when it ran into a steel quay.
The ship, which suffered hull damage and was held for repairs to make it seaworthy, had a different owner and operator at the time.
The Dali is now registered in Singapore, where it's owned by a subsidiary of the BVI-registered Ocean Grace.
The Singapore subsidiary owns 55 ships in total, according to online shipping database Equasis.
Corporate records show the subsidiary has three directors based in Singapore: Tock Hin Anthony Heng, a Singapore national; Oliver Pabalan Espino, a Filipino national; and Yoshimasa Abe, a Japanese national.
It was Mr Abe who signed an agreement in July 2020 for the company with a Singapore union guaranteeing conditions for maritime employees on ships including the Dali.
It also included the Western Callao, which was banned from Australia the following year for underpaying seafarers.
The ABC called Mr Abe and emailed questions but he did not respond. His co-directors could not be reached.
Grace Ocean, which bought the Dali months after its Belgian accident in 2016, uses another Singapore company, Synergy Group, to operate the ship.
In a statement, Synergy said the Dali had collided with a pillar of the bridge at Baltimore "whilst under pilotage with two pilots onboard", referring to local mariners responsible for boarding and guiding the ship safely out of the harbour.
Synergy said the "exact cause of the incident was yet to be determined [and] the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies".
The ship was bound for the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, where it was due to arrive on April 22.
It had spent three days in dock at Baltimore, having arrived via Norfolk and New York after travelling through the Panama Canal earlier this month.
The ship's last recorded inspection by authorities was by the US Coast Guard in New York last September, according to Equasis.
Tax havens and 'flags of convenience'
Ian Bray, the Australian coordinator of the International Transport Workers Federation, said the costly, and likely deadly mishap in Baltimore shone light on a global shipping industry that often made it hard to hold big players to account.
Mr Bray said US investigators could take months and would work out if it was "human error or mechanical error".
If the latter, investigators would examine how often engines and generators on the ship were inspected and maintained.
A helicopter flies over the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. (Reuters: Julia Nikhinson)
Mr Bray said there was some evidence of systemic issues with ship operators cutting corners on maintenance, with AMSA banning several ships last year over poor maintenance programs.
"Whether it's the owner with a direct hand on it or whether it's an indirect hand through a management company, ultimately the buck has to stop somewhere in the management system," he said.
"But it's quite often the case that that registry of ownership with a particular company is probably a subsidiary company of another company, that's a subsidiary of another company.
"There's been times where we've gone and tried to map who actually owns something and it is very, very opaque … because it's designed to be that way."
Mr Bray said the industry was rife with big players using tax havens and "flags of convenience", registering ships in different countries from where they were owned.
"It's about tax minimisation, first and foremost with all of these corporations but it's also escapism from any regulatory regime that has any teeth," he said.
"You talk about mechanical failures and these kinds of things because it's on the TV in front of you at night.
"But the basics of this [system] too, is it makes it easier to exploit the workforce.
"It's a very, very murky world. And the global powers that be need to put five minutes attention on it and turn a spotlight on it to actually have a look at what's going on."
A Liberian-flagged gas carrier ran aground offshore Egypt, prompting a state of emergency over the weekend in anticipation of any leakage or pollution.
The incident involving the 14,800 cu m LPG tanker Claudia Gas took place in the Gulf of Aqaba during the Eid holiday.
Shipping databases show the 1990-built vessel is owned by Grece’s Benelux Overseas and managed by Zeus Lines.
Local authorities said Sunday the 158-m-long ship was refloated, and detained in the Sharm El-Sheikh port until investigations were completed and the environmental damage was assessed.
Egyptian media reported, citing undisclosed sources, that the vessel had suffered an engine failure and had been empty at the time of the incident.
Pictured below, the vessel track from MarineTraffic of the Claudia Gas from April 9 to today.
Egyptian authorities have detained a gas carrier registered with Liberia when the vessel grounded in an ecologically sensitive region in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Salvage squads could, however, refloat the vessel and shift it into a safe anchorage in the Red Sea near Safaga, Egypt.
The Claudia Gas, a 16,000 dwt vessel built in 1990, had finished offloading in the port of Aqaba and was sailing to Russia when the ship blacked out on 12 April, Friday.
It grounded on Friday night in the Ras Nasrani region, close to the Egyptian town of Sharm El Sheikh.
The Environmental Ministry also alerted the resources for an oil spill but reported the vessel had been refloated with zero signs of a leak. The gas tanks were vacant.
Egyptian authorities were on alert in the region as the Eid Al-Fitr celebration was on.
It is typically a busy tourist time, and they also reported expecting a massive inflow of tourists to the marine reserve.
They expected increased beach activity, with divers and yachts sailing there.
Coastal monitoring was underway during the holiday and increased following the grounding.
Unconfirmed reports from the Egyptian media declared that the gas tanker lost propulsion, resulting in the grounding.
They also suggest that, based on the damage caused in the marine reserve, the vessel could be heavily fined millions of dollars.
Divers reportedly followed the vessel’s path, examining the coral reef for probable injuries.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of the Environment, further mentioned that post-accident examinations were underway.
The studies measure the damage to the coral reef, possible recovery rates, and the likelihood of undertaking restoration efforts.
The vessel, managed by Zeus Lines of Greece from 2020 onward, was examined in February 2024 in Aqaba. At that time, it was cited for inoperative gauges, but detention was not imposed.
Tourists in Thailand have had to jump overboard after their ferry caught fire on the way to Koh Tao, which is an island particularly popular with backpackers.
Terrifying footage shows huge flames and smoke billowing from the blackened ferry after its passengers made a lucky escape.
About a decade ago, Koh Tao was dubbed ‘Death Island’ by foreign media following the murder of two British backpackers, along with other tourist deaths and disappearances.
The ferry that caught fire on Thursday morning was travelling from Surat Thani in southern Thailand with about 97 Thai and foreign passengers, who were all rescued, Police Colonel Chokchai Sutthimek, superintendent of the Koh Tao Police Station, said.
There were 11 Burmese boat crew, who were also rescued.
Some passengers suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.
“The vessel involved was the Ko Jaroen 2, a night ferry that also serves as a cargo boat. It was bound for Koh Tao and left the pier from Surat Thani at 11 pm last night,” Sutthimek said.
‘The fire originated in the engine room while the boat was mid-sea and approaching the pier at Koh Tao, causing panic among passengers, some of whom jumped overboard.
“After receiving the report from authorities and boat operators at Koh Tao, we swiftly dispatched a rescue boat to evacuate all passengers and crew back to the coast.
A Surat Thani resident who was on the ferry at the time told The Associated Press the rescue boats could not get close enough to the ferry out of fear of explosions, meaning people had to jump into the sea to be rescued.
“We could barely get the life vests in time,” he said. “It was chaotic. People were weeping … I also teared up.”
Footage showed passengers wearing life jackets gathered on the highest points of the vessel as smoke billowed around them.
There were also cars and motorbikes seen on the ferry.
An investigation has now been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
Just two days earlier, a diving boat was also engulfed in flames in southern Thailand.
No injuries were reported in that fire as only one person, who managed to jump into the water to escape, was on-board at the time.
In 2015, a 12-year-old tourist died after a ferry burst into flames while travelling from Krabi to the island of Phuket.
More than 100 other passengers were rescued but the girl went to the bathroom just before the fire broke out at the stern of the vessel.
Liga Asuransi – Greetings, risk takers! In the first week of April 2024, we again present a series of news regarding accident incidents in Indonesia which invites all of our attention. Risk can lurk anywhere and at any time, and it doesn’t know who is the victim. We cannot predict when accidents will occur, but we have the ability to reduce their impact by prioritizing safety. In this article, we have collected seven accident news stories that will deepen our understanding of the importance of safety in everyday life.
Let’s stay alert and take care of ourselves and those closest to us.
OUT OF CONTROL TRUCK! CONSECUTIVE COLLISIONS ON THE CILEUNGSI-CIBUBUR TRANSYOGI HIGHWAY, MATERIAL LOSSES REACH IDR 100 MILLION
A serious accident occurred on the Transyogi Highway between Cileungsi and Cibubur last Sunday (31/3), when a truck and five cars were involved in a tense collision. According to Head of Traffic Unit for Bogor Police, AKP Rizky Guntama, the terrible incident occurred at around 13.40 WIB.
From the information given by Rizky, the unfortunate incident began when a large truck was driving from Cileungsi to Cibubur. However, when the truck reached an incline, the vehicle apparently lost power and began to slide backwards without control.
“The Hino truck with plate number B 9040 TYY seemed to have difficulty climbing uphill, then uncontrollably reversed,” explained Rizky in his official statement.
The truck, which shifted backwards, then crashed into the side of a nearby Hyundai Creta. The tragic incident continued with a heavy impact on the Mercy Mayasari bus, before finally turning around and hitting the Toyota Avanza.
Unfortunately, the seemingly out of control truck continued to accelerate and hit other cars along the way, including a Daihatsu Sigra and a Honda Freed, before finally hitting the road divider with terrifying force.
“The truck hit the Daihatsu Sigra and Honda Freed before finally stopping after hitting the sidewalk,” added Rizky.
Luckily, there were no fatalities in the accident, although four people were reported to have suffered minor injuries. However, material losses resulting from the collision are estimated to reach an astonishing figure, around IDR 100 million.
This tragic incident immediately attracted the attention of netizens after a video circulated showing the tense moments of the accident. The video shows how several cars were involved in a horrific chain collision.
Congestion along the Cileungsi-Cibubur Highway was unavoidable due to this incident, with many residents coming to the location to see the situation and help with the evacuation process.
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EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT THE PT POKPHAND CHICKEN FEED FACTORY IN THE MAKASSAR INDUSTRIAL AREA. 14 PEOPLE INJURED AND 1 FATALITY
Monday (1/4), a major fire occurred at the chicken feed factory owned by PT Pokphand which is located in the Makassar Industrial Area (KIMA). This incident not only caused material losses, but also left deep sorrow with one worker dying and 14 other people suffering burns.
Makassar Police Chief, Police Commissioner Mokhamad Ngajib, revealed that the fire that occurred on Monday afternoon was accompanied by an explosion in the factory. “Then we investigated the crime scene (TKP), it turned out there were victims, one person died, then 14 people were injured,” said Ngajib.
The cause of the fire is thought to have come from welding activity in one of the leaking chimneys, which then sparked a spark. “This was the cause of the explosion and there were also sparks. So the victim who died suffered blisters (burns),” he said.
Currently, the police are carrying out an investigation and will ask for information from a number of witnesses regarding this tragic incident. “We are carrying out the crime scene processing and tomorrow we will carry it out together with the South Sulawesi Police Labfor Team and the Identification Team, then we will examine the witnesses,” he explained.
The workers who were victims are undergoing intensive treatment in hospital. “We have just checked at the hospital. We have just reported one death and 14 injuries,” he added.
This incident is an important moment to review safety protocols in the workplace to prevent a similar tragedy from recurring in the future.
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MUGI BERKAH GROCERY STORE ENGULFED IN FIRE. LOSSES REACH IDR 1 BILLION
A tragic incident struck the Mugi Berkah Grocery Store on Jalan Ir. Juanda, Ponorogo, when the fire fiercely devoured the entire building. Temporary estimates indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, causing losses estimated at IDR 1 billion. Although it was fortunate that there were no fatalities in this incident, the sight of the burnt-out shop left the owner deeply scarred.
One of the victim’s family members, Harjanto, described the tense moment when the fire erupted. “The shop had just closed for about half an hour, our family went into the house,” he told reporters. “Suddenly, we saw a fire appear. At first, we didn’t really notice it. However, screams from local residents and people passing in front of the shop warned us that there was a fire,” explained Harjanto.
In a brave effort to extinguish the fire, the owner and local residents fought tooth and nail. However, the fire was so fierce that it was difficult to control. “Everything in the shop is gone, there’s nothing that can be saved,” said Harjanto in a sad tone.
Adding to this story, Ponorogo Police Chief Inspector Muhammad Mustofa Sahid explained that the fire occurred at around 23.45 WIB on Monday night. “A fire suddenly appeared on the left side of the grocery store. Luckily the fire did not spread to all the houses adjacent to the shop,” said Sahid.
Even though the material losses are very large, the most important thing is that the safety of the soul is maintained. Surviving this disaster, the homeowner and his family of 5 people can breathe a sigh of relief. “A total of 4 vehicles were deployed to extinguish the fire. Three PMK cars and one BPBD Ponorogo water tank,” explained Sahid.
The shop owner, Sudrajat, had to swallow a bitter pill because of this incident. Shops that were ready to welcome the Eid season had to be burned to the ground. “It is estimated that the loss will reach IDR 1 billion,” concluded Sahid in a concerned tone. Hopefully recovery and restoration can be carried out soon for all those affected by this fire.
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HORRIBLE EXPLOSION ON THE MUSI RIVER: JUKUNG SHIP BURNS UNDER AMPERA BRIDGE
Palembang was shaken by panic when a jukung ship, the Morning Star, suddenly exploded in the Musi River. The violent explosion was followed by flames that licked the night sky, spreading panic among residents living on the outskirts of the Ampera Bridge.
The jukung ship which was refueling at the Apung gas station in Lorong Keramat, Kelurahan 4 Ulu, Palembang, that night, suddenly became a source of destruction. The fierce fire destroyed the ship, while the current of the Musi River quickly dragged the wreckage far from the scene.
From this tragedy, four people became victims. Two of them were in critical condition, one was declared dead, and another was reported missing. This accident not only caused panic among motorists passing through the Ampera Bridge, but also caused destruction around the area under the iconic bridge.
An eyewitness, Deri, who witnessed the terrible incident, revealed that the explosion was not from the Floating Gas Station, but from a jukung ship loaded with oil. “It was a jukung ship that exploded, carrying shopping goods coming from under Ampera,” he said.
According to him, the jukung ship first exploded near the coast of the Musi River, in the area of Kelurahan 3-4 Ulu Palembang. “Earlier there was a firefighting boat and local residents helped put out the fire. The boat was swept away by the gradual current,” he explained.
This tragedy illustrates the tension felt by Palembang residents, but also shows the spirit of solidarity in efforts to extinguish fires and save lives. Hopefully the injured victim can recover quickly, and incidents like this can be avoided in the future.
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SHIP CARRYING FUEL CAUGHT FIRE AT KBN MARUNDA PORT
KBN Marunda Port, Clincing, North Jakarta, witnessed tension when a ship carrying fuel oil (BBM) caught fire on Tuesday (2/3/2024) at around 09.30 WIB. The fiercely burning fire was successfully extinguished at around 10.11 WIB by North Jakarta Fire Department (Damkar) officers, after their hard efforts involving eight cars and around 40 personnel.
Abdul Wahid, Head of North Jakarta Fire and Rescue Operations, revealed that the situation is currently still in the process of cooling down at the scene. “Damkar arrived at the location at around 10.09 WIB and the fire was successfully localized at around 10.11 WIB,” he told Kompas.com.
Although material losses can be expected to be large, to date there have been no reports of casualties due to the fire. “At the moment there is no confirmation of victims,” said Abdul Wahid.
The dramatic video of the ship fire was widely spread on social media, attracting the attention of netizens. In the video, black smoke fills the sky when the red rooster attacks the fuel carrier. The video was first uploaded by the social media account @mas_ibeng, which openly witnessed the terrible incident.
This incident is a reminder of the risks inherent in the fuel transportation industry, and also highlights the bravery and alertness of firefighters in dealing with emergency situations. Hopefully there will be no casualties in this incident, and hopefully the authorities can find out the exact cause of the ship fire to prevent a similar incident from recurring in the future.
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GROCERY SHOP OWNER IN WEST SUMATRA THREATENED WITH FIREARMS, LOSSES REACH IDR 80 MILLION
Terror has returned to haunt the West Sumatra (Sumbar) region with worrying acts of armed robbery. This time, two perpetrators armed with firearms attacked a grocery store owner in Jorong Sungai Nili, Nagari Sungai Kambut, Pulau Punjung District, Dharmasraya Regency.
In the 1 minute 10 second video recording received by detikSumut, tension was visible when the two perpetrators entered and held the shop owner at gunpoint with a firearm. They do not hesitate to intimidate with these dangerous actions.
The identity of the victim, Ahmad Bonjovi (33), had to feel the bitter impact of the attack with losses reaching IDR 80 million. In this fast-paced incident, the two perpetrators swiftly took money from the grocery store and BRI Link, then ran away without leaving a trace.
Head of Public Relations for the Dharmasraya Police, Akp Edi Sumantri, confirmed this frightening incident. “The two perpetrators came suddenly and immediately threatened the victim with a revolver type firearm. They forced the victim not to fight back while threatening to shoot if there was any resistance,” he explained.
Even though the victim has reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the two perpetrators are still unknown. However, the Dharmasraya Police have taken serious action in investigating this case.
“We are investigating the two perpetrators and trying to confirm their whereabouts,” said Edi.
This incident is a warning to the public about the dangers of crime, and shows the importance of prevention efforts and strong law enforcement. Hopefully the perpetrator will soon be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with applicable law, while the victim can recover from the psychological and financial impacts caused by this incident.
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RESIDENTS OF MANDALA, MEDAN CITY, FLOCK TO CITE SPILLED OIL FROM A CPO TANK TRUCK ACCIDENT
A tragic accident occurred on Jalan Garuda 3, Mandala, Medan City, when a tanker truck carrying CPO had an accident on the Bandar Selamat – Tembung toll road on Tuesday (2/4/24). The oil spilled from the truck then flowed into nearby settlements, causing concern for local residents.
In response to this incident, a number of residents spontaneously moved to recover the spilled oil, which had flowed through the toll road drainage and down into the ditch. Without hesitation, they flocked to collect the oil that was scattered in their settlements.
Leo Barus, a resident who was an eyewitness to the incident, explained the chronology of the accident. According to him, the accident occurred after the car in front stopped on the side of the toll road without turning on the hazard lights. As a result, the CPO tank truck coming from behind was unable to avoid it and hit the car, causing the car’s tank to burst which contained CPO oil.
“From that incident, as many as 4 car tanks broke. The oil from the car tanks was also taken by local residents. This person was in the convoy. Because of a car in front. CPO oil,” said Leo Barus.
Meanwhile, residents continue to be busy harvesting the oil that is still flowing, even though the area around the oil spill has become slippery and smelly. This incident shows the quick response and solidarity between residents in dealing with emergency situations like this.
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The Button is a John P. Bobo-class con/ro cargo ship assigned to MSC's maritime prepositioning fleet. The class has a ro/ro loading ramp at the stern for wheeled and tracked cargo, and is capable of supporting the lightering system for over-the-shore logistics. She was built for American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) at the former Fore River Shipyard in Massachusetts in 1986, and was one of the last ships the yard delivered: it closed later that year.
USNS Button with stern ro/ro ramp deployed to interface with a roll-on/roll-off discharge facility (RRDF) (U.S. Navy file image)
Last week, an engine room fire disabled the Military Sealift Command cargo ship USNS Sgt. William R. Button off the coast of Alabama, MSC has confirmed.
USNS Button got under way from the port of Mobile at about 0945 hours on Thursday morning. At about 1330 hours, as USNS Button was under way about 20 nm offshore, a fire broke out in the engine room, the Navy told local media. The crew used the fixed firefighting system to extinguish it. No outside assistance was needed, though the U.S. Coast Guard was there on standby, according to local WKRG News.
USNS Button returned safely to Mobile's harbor on Friday, under tow. No injuries were reported among her 53 crewmembers.
The Button is a John P. Bobo-class con/ro cargo ship assigned to MSC's maritime prepositioning fleet. The class has a ro/ro loading ramp at the stern for wheeled and tracked cargo, and is capable of supporting the lightering system for over-the-shore logistics. She was built for American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) at the former Fore River Shipyard in Massachusetts in 1986, and was one of the last ships the yard delivered: it closed later that year. Under operation by General Dynamics AMSEA, Button served the Maritime Administration for sealift operations, including Operation Desert Shield. She came under MSC ownership for the Prepositioning Program in 2006.
Based on AIS data, USNS Button has been in Mobile since July 2023.
As investigators work to determine what caused the hulking Dali container ship to topple Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge in a matter of seconds on Tuesday, maritime experts around the country are pointing to what could have stopped it.
Tugboats.
These small but mighty vessels tow and push ever-larger ships through channels and help them when their propulsion systems – or lack thereof – cannot. They are standard equipment in ports worldwide and are especially useful to help ships with docking and undocking.
On Tuesday, a pair of tugboats operated by McAllister Towing and Transportation did just that, helping the Dali unmoor itself from the main terminal at the Port of Baltimore and orient the ship toward the open waters.
But they broke away before the massive ship navigated under the bridge, as is common practice. Minutes later, the Dali appeared to lose power and propulsion, sending the craft adrift and directly into one of the bridge’s support columns. The steel-truss bridge immediately collapsed into the frigid Patapsco River.
The accident is igniting debate over the proliferation of “megaships” that fuel today’s commercial transportation industry and whether port protocols have ramped up to safely accommodate them. Although the Dali is average-sized compared to many of these behemoths, the devastation it caused in Baltimore was formidable.
Live updates:Two bodies in Baltimore bridge collapse recovered; search for 4 others ends
Had the tugboats accompanied the ship all the way under the bridge, some experts said, they might have been able to stop, slow, or steer it away from danger.
Such a scenario should be standard operating procedure in all ports, said Capt. Ashok Pandey, a master mariner and associate professor of maritime business at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. But he said the industry’s reliance on tugs has waned over the years as technological advancements gave many ships the ability to maneuver through channels independently.
Technology is great, Pandey said, until it fails.
“We went wrong by simply equipping ships with bow and stern thrusters that we use in lieu of tugs to maneuver in and out of the ports,” Pandey said. “When we are getting into ports like Baltimore, within a few miles of the bridge, that's too important an asset that we must think of protecting it by all means possible. And we can do that. We can easily do that.”
It may be rare for a ship to lose power at such a high-stakes moment, but it clearly does happen, and he said tugboats could have averted catastrophe.
Implementing such a practice would require a significant investment for U.S. ports, which either own and operate their own tugboats or contract out for tug services. Those costs are then rolled into the ports’ fees charged to shipping companies who use their facilities.
“There are a finite number of tugs, and 99.9% of the time there are no issues,” said Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner and current maritime historian at Campbell University who also hosts a YouTube show called “What’s Going On With Shipping?”
“If the port required tug escorts in and out, then they would not be able to help other ships dock, and undock,” Mercogliano said. “It would need more tugs, and the question becomes, how much will this cost, and will it be passed on to the consumer?”
Because ports compete with each other for shipping business, he said, it’s unlikely that one port would mandate tug escorts unless all of the ports did it for fear of losing lucrative contracts. Shipping companies want the most efficient and cost-effective deal and will simply move to the next port if confronted with higher costs or longer waits.
Mercogliano said he’s not even sure tugboats would have been able to stop the Dali from hitting the bridge. When its power appeared to fail, the ship was going about 8 knots – roughly 9 mph – with a weight of over 100,000 tons.
“It would be like a Prius trying to move a Mack truck on the highway,” he said.
Realities of the container ship arms race
The Dali isn’t even big compared to other container ships hauling goods from port to port these days.
Over the past several decades, newly constructed ships have ballooned to gigantic proportions with load-carrying capacities that used to require five or six ships. The largest container vessel in the 1980s had a maximum capacity of 4,300 20-foot containers – otherwise referred to as TEUs, or 20-foot equivalent units – the standard unit of measurement for cargo capacity.
Today’s largest ship, the MSC Irina, has a capacity of 24,346 TEUs.
The Dali, by comparison, has a capacity of just under 10,000 TEUs, making it the typical “meat and potatoes of container ships,” said Kevin Calnan, assistant professor of marine transportation at California State University Maritime Academy.
Like most container ships, Calnan said, the Dali has one engine and one propeller. Its emergency diesel generator, standard in all such vessels, has enough power to keep key systems going – but not enough to restart the engine or provide propulsion.
In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck the bridge. Experts said that was likely the generator as it powered up the lights but not the engine.
It would have taken a second engine on board to fully power the ship and restore propulsion at that point. But Calnan said nobody in the commercial shipping industry is advocating for two engines because of their size and cost.
“Cargo is money, and companies want to maximize the amount of space they want to put cargo in, so to build a ship with a whole other engine would be taking up the space of, like, 150 containers on that ship,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s not too much movement to require these ships to have two engines.”
Calnan, who has worked and sailed on numerous ships during his career, is among the experts who believe tugboats “definitely” could have stopped the Dali from hitting the bridge. He said he has been in similar situations where the power went out and “having tugs there basically saved the day.”
It may take a disaster for industry and ports to change
The bigger the boats and the more sophisticated the technology, the fewer the crew members on board. The Dali's crew is 22-strong.
In his 26 years sailing on commercial ships, Capt. Mike Campbell said he witnessed that shift to smaller crews as automation and electronics made it possible to do more with less when it came to docking, navigating and maintaining the engines.
“I had captains who would turn the radar off in the middle of the day because they didn't want to wear it out, and you'd just go off visual cues, take readings off lighthouses. Now everything is chips and boards,” he said. “And people are more dependent or reliant on it because they are more reliable.”
Campbell, now a professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and master of the training ship Kennedy, said he’s also seen captains push to meet tight schedules, recalling a time when several other chemical carriers owned by competitors sailed out of the Port of Philadelphia into bad weather. His ship stayed put for three days, and arrived in Houston, safely, a day behind schedule. The other ships, he said, all had to sail to shipyards for repairs caused by the storm.
“I was fortunate that the people I sailed under, my mentors, they never worried about the schedule. It was always about the safe operation of the ship,” he said. “You don't want to push things.”
Mariners are always worried about their schedules now, Pandey said.
The shipping industry has become so highly competitive, with companies all vying for a slice of the business, that crews are more likely to leave port without containers than wait on a late shipment and risk falling behind. Ships typically go from port to port, spending anywhere from six to eight hours in each before moving on to the next.
He called it a race to nowhere in which everyone – from the ports to the shipping companies – is playing along.
U.S. ports have spent billions of dollars over the years adapting to the new reality – upgrading their facilities and dredging their channels deep enough to accommodate these massive ships. Some experts warn they could get even bigger in the future, possibly doubling in cargo capacity at some point.
Amid the race to compete for the revenue and jobs brought by these ever-larger ships, port authorities seem to have forgotten about protecting their critical infrastructure, according to Pandley, the former master mariner. He said Tuesday’s accident might be the wake-up call they need to do some real soul-searching.
USA TODAY reached out to the American Association of Port Authorities to ask its thoughts on requiring tug escorts or any other measures to avert the kind of disaster that happened in Baltimore, but a spokesman said nobody was immediately available to take those questions.
Unfortunately, experts said, it often takes a tragedy to improve an industry.
That’s what happened after the 1989 Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Alaska when the U.S. government required double-hull construction for all newly built oil tank ships and all oil tank barges in American waters. California passed a law in the aftermath of that disaster, requiring all oil tankers to have tug escorts in its ports and harbors.
“We have a saying that the laws are written in blood,” said Roland Rexha, international secretary-treasurer of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the oldest maritime union in the United States.
“Knowing what we know now, could we have had tugs accompany the ship to the bridge? Sure. But what were the issues that caused the vessel to lose power in the first place?” he said. “There will be an investigation, and we’re hopeful that the lessons learned will lead to an active change in how things are operated.”
BALTIMORE (AP) — The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent “routine engine maintenance” in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday, as divers recovered the bodies of two of six workers who plunged into the water when it collapsed. The others were presumed dead, and officials said search efforts had been exhausted.
Investigators began collecting evidence from the vessel a day after it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bodies of the two men were located in the morning inside a red pickup submerged in about 25 feet (7.6 meters) of water near the bridge’s middle span, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of Maryland State Police, announced at an evening news conference.
He identified the men as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, who was from Mexico and living in Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, who was from Guatemala and living in Dundalk, Maryland.
The victims, who were part of a construction crew fixing potholes on the bridge, were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, Butler said.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore addressed their families in Spanish during the news conference, saying, “Estamos contigo, ahora y siempre,” which means, “we are with you, now and always.”
All search efforts have been exhausted, and based on sonar scans, authorities “firmly” believe the other vehicles with victims are encased in material from the collapsed bridge, Butler said. Divers are to resume searching once the debris is cleared.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at the news conference that authorities were informed that the ship was going to undergo the maintenance.
“As far as the engine goes, we were not informed of any problems with the vessel,” he said.
The Baltimore region has reeled from the sudden loss of a major transportation link that's part of the highway loop around the city. The disaster also closed the port, which is vital to the city's shipping industry.
National Transportation Safety Board officials boarded the ship to recover information from its electronics and paperwork and to interview the captain and other crew members, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said during a separate news conference. Twenty-three people, including two pilots, were on the ship when it crashed, she said.
The vessel was also carrying 56 containers of hazardous materials including corrosives, flammables and lithium ion batteries, Homendy said. She added that some containers were breached, and that a sheen on the water from those materials would be handled by authorities.
Marcel Muise, NTSB investigator in charge, laid out a preliminary timeline assembled from the voyage data recorder comprising audio from the bridge and VHF radio ahead of the crash, which federal and state officials have said appeared to be an accident.
The vessel, the Dali, left port at 12:39 a.m. Tuesday and, after it entered the channel, signs of trouble came at about 1:25 a.m. when numerous alarms sounded, according to the NTSB. About a minute later, steering commands and rudder orders were issued, and at 1:26 a.m. and 39 seconds, a pilot made a general radio call for nearby tug boats.
Maryland Transportation Authority data from about the same time shows the pilot association dispatcher called the transportation authority's officer on duty about the blackout, the NTSB said.
Just after 1:27 a.m., the pilot commanded the ship to drop an anchor on the left side of the ship and issued added steering commands. About 20 seconds later, the pilot issued a radio call reporting that the Dali had lost all power approaching the bridge.
At about that time, the state transportation officer on duty radioed two of its units already stationed at each end of the bridge saying to close the bridge to vehicle traffic. They were already there because of the construction.
Around 1:29 a.m., when the ship was traveling at about 8 mph (13 kph), recordings for about 30 seconds picked up sounds consistent with it colliding with the bridge, the NTSB said. A Transportation Authority dash camera also shows lights on the bridge going out.
At 1:29 a.m. and 39 seconds, the pilot reported to the Coast Guard that the bridge was down.
Muise said experts will review the entire voyage data recording and develop a detailed transcript.
At least eight people initially went into the water when the ship struck the bridge column, and two of them were rescued Tuesday, officials said.
Traffic was still crossing the span as the ship approached, and some vehicles appeared to escape with only seconds to spare. The crash caused the bridge to break and fall into the water within seconds.
Authorities had just enough time to stop vehicle traffic. One officer parked sideways across the lanes and planned to drive onto the bridge to alert the construction crew once another officer arrived, but he did not get a chance.
The debris complicated the search for the workers, according to a Homeland Security memo described to The Associated Press by a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss details of the document or the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Gov. Moore said the divers faced dangerous conditions, among the mangled metal and low visibility.
“They are down there in darkness where they can literally see about a foot in front of them,” Moore said.
The Dali, which is managed by Synergy Marine Group, was headed from Baltimore to Sri Lanka. It is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered it.
The vessel passed foreign port state inspections in June and September 2023. In the June inspection, a faulty monitor gauge for fuel pressure was rectified before departure, Singapore’s port authority said.
The ship was traveling under a Singapore flag, and officials there said they will conduct their own investigation in addition to supporting U.S. authorities.
The sudden loss of a highway that carries 30,000 vehicles a day and the port disruption will affect not only thousands of dockworkers and commuters but also U.S. consumers who are likely to feel the impact of shipping delays.
“A lot of people don’t realize how important the port is just to everything,” said Cat Watson, who used the bridge to get to work every day and lives close enough that she was awakened by the collision. “We’re going to be feeling it for a very long time.”
Baltimore is a busy entry point for vehicles made in Germany, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom, along with coal and farm equipment.
Ship traffic has been suspended indefinitely. Windward Maritime, a maritime risk-management company, said its data shows a large increase in ships that are waiting for a port to go to, with some anchored outside Baltimore or nearby Annapolis.
At the White House, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the Biden administration was focused on reopening the port and rebuilding the bridge, which was completed in 1977. He did not put a timeline on those efforts, while noting that the original bridge took five years to construct.
Buttigieg also planned to meet Thursday with supply chain officials.
Barges, including some with cranes, were on their way to help remove the wreckage, Gilreath said.
Homendy said the NTSB investigation could take 12 to 24 months but the agency may issue urgent safety recommendations sooner. A preliminary report should come in two to four weeks.
“It’s a massive undertaking for an investigation,” Homendy said.
From 1960 to 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collisions, according to the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.
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The Baltimore bridge collapse has wreaked havoc at one of the country’s busiest ports and raised questions about the Singapore-flagged container ship involved in the incident.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday said the crew of the Dali was able to send a critical emergency alert that enabled authorities to clear the bridge of further car traffic ahead of impact.
The container ship had previously been involved in a minor incident in Belgium’s Port of Antwerp.
The Key Bridge was hit by a ship and collapsed on March 26, 2024.
The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Six construction workers were presumed dead on Wednesday after a massive cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to partially collapse into the Patapsco River.
The incident, which has wreaked havoc at one of the country’s busiest ports and sparked fears about supply chain disruption, has raised questions about the Singapore-flagged container ship involved.
Known as the Dali, the nearly 1,000-foot-long vessel was heading out of Baltimore Harbor and bound for Sri Lanka, when it hit a support pylon of the bridge at around 1:30 a.m. ET.
It appeared to be traveling at roughly 8 knots (about 9 mph) before the collision, according to LSEG shipping data. Video footage of the disaster appears to show the 1.6-mile structure crumpling into the icy water almost immediately after it was struck.
A search and rescue effort was suspended Tuesday evening.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday said the crew of the Dali was able to send a critical emergency alert that enabled authorities to clear the bridge of further car traffic ahead of impact.
“Between the mayday and the collapse that we … that we had officials that were able to … to begin to stop the flow of traffic, so more cars would not end up on the bridge, which saved lives in a very, very heroic way,” Moore said at a news conference.
Moore said the ship’s crew notified authorities of power issues prior to the collision and that a preliminary investigation pointed to an accident.
What do we know about the Dali?
The Dali was previously involved in a minor incident in Belgium’s Port of Antwerp, the second-largest port in Europe.
The ship suffered “sufficient damages” in July 2016 when it struck the stone wall of the quay during unmooring maneuvers, according to shipping trafficking website Vesselfinder.
The accident, which did not cause any injuries, occurred during good weather and “was caused by the mistake of the Master and pilot on board.” The Dali remained afloat after the incident and was subsequently repaired.
Separately, an inspection of the Dali in San Antonio, Chile, in June last year found propulsion and auxiliary machinery deficiencies, NBC News reported Tuesday, citing data from the website Equasis, which provides information on ships.
In an aerial view, cargo ship Dali is seen after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Tasos Katopodis | Getty Images
However, Singapore’s port authority on Wednesday said that the container ship had passed overseas inspections and carried certificates to cover its structural integrity and functionality at the time of the Baltimore bridge incident.
The Dali underwent and passed two separate foreign port state inspections in June and September last year, the authority said. In the June inspection, the container ship was found to have had a faulty monitor gauge for fuel pressure, but this was fixed before the vessel departed the port.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore added that the Dali’s next classification and statutory surveys had been scheduled for June 2024.
Who chartered the ship?
Danish shipping giant Maersk
has confirmed it chartered the Dali, saying on Tuesday that it was “horrified” by what happened in Baltimore.
“Our thoughts are with all of those affected. We can confirm that the container vessel ‘DALI’, operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group, is time chartered by Maersk and is carrying Maersk customers’ cargo,” the company said in a statement.
“No Maersk crew and personnel were onboard the vessel. We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed.”
Since the Panama Canal was expanded in 2016, Baltimore’s 50-foot shipping channel and port handle some of the world’s largest cargo ships that arrive from Asia and elsewhere. The port handles goods including automotives, sugar, coal and machinery.
— CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache and Jenni Reid contributed to this story.
Emily Le Coz, Claire Thornton, Josh Meyer, Tom Vanden Brook USA TODAY
Propulsion failed on the cargo ship that struck the Francis Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday as it was leaving port, causing it to collapse into the frigid Patapsco River. Its crew warned Maryland officials of a possible collision because they had lost control.
“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel” and a collision with the bridge “was possible,” according to an unclassified Department of Homeland Security report. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”
An official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to USA TODAY that the DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working with federal, state, and local officials “to understand the potential impacts of this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”
Clay Diamond, executive director, American Pilots’ Association, told USA TODAY power issues are not unusual on cargo ships, which are so large they cannot easily course correct.
“It’s likely that virtually every pilot in the country has experienced a power loss of some kind (but) it generally is momentary,” Diamond said. “This was a complete blackout of all the power on the ship, so that’s unusual. Of course this happened at the worst possible location.”
The ship in Tuesday's crash, Dali, was involved in at least one prior accident when it collided with a shipping pier in Belgium.
That 2016 incident occurred as the Dali was leaving port in Antwerp and struck a loading pier made of stone, causing damage to the ship’s stern, according to VesselFinder.com, a site that tracks ships across the world. An investigation determined a mistake made by the ship’s master and pilot was to blame.
No one was injured in that crash, although the ship required repair and a full inspection before being returned to service. The pier – or berth – was also seriously damaged and had to be closed.
VesselFinder reports that the Dali was chartered by Maersk, the same company chartering it during the Baltimore harbor incident.
The 9-year-old container ship had passed previous inspections during its time at sea, but during one such inspection in June at the Port of San Antonio in Chile, officials discovered a deficiency with its "propulsion and auxiliary machinery (gauges, thermometers, etc)," according to the Tokyo MOU, an intergovernmental maritime authority in the Asia-Pacific region.
The report provided no other information about the deficiency except to note that it was not serious enough to remove the ship from service.
In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Why did Dali crash into the Baltimore bridge?
Officials said Tuesday they’re investigating the collision, including whether systems on board lost electricity early Tuesday morning, which could be related to mechanical failure, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Accidents at sea, known as marine casualties, are not uncommon, the source told USA TODAY. However, “allisions,” in which a moving object strikes a stationary one with catastrophic results, are far less common. The investigation of the power loss aboard the Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, will be a high priority.
In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck a support pier on the bridge.
Numerous cargo and cruise ships have lost power over the years.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires all international vessels to have two independent sources of electricity, both of which should be able to maintain the ship's seaworthiness on their own, according to a safety study about power failures on ships, citing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
The Dali's emergency generator was likely responsible for the lights coming back on after the initial blackout, Diamond said.
“There was still some steerage left when they initially lost power,” he said. “We’ve been told the ship never recovered propulsion. The emergency generator is a diesel itself – so if you light off the generator, that’s also going to put off a puff of exhaust.”
Under maritime law, all foreign flagged vessels must be piloted into state ports by a state licensed pilot so the Dali's pilot is licensed by Association of Maryland Pilots.
Diamond described the incident based on information from the Maryland agency that licensed the pilot aboard the ship. His organization represents that group and all other state piloting agencies in the US.
“The pilot was directing navigation of the ship as it happened,” he said. “He asked the captain to get the engines back online. They weren’t able to do that, so the pilot took all the action he could. He tried to steer, to keep the ship in the channel. He also dropped the ship’s anchor to slow the ship and guide the direction.
“Neither one was enough. The ship never did regain its engine power.”
How big is the Dali ship?
The Dali is a 984-foot container vessel built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. With a cruising speed of about 22 knots – roughly 25 mph. It has traveled the world carrying goods from port to port.
The ship, constructed of high-strength steel, has one engine and one propeller, according to MarineTraffic.com.
The Dali arrived in Baltimore on Sunday from the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. Before that, it had been in New York and came through the Panama Canal.
It remains at the scene of the collapse as authorities investigate.
Who owns and operates the Dali?
It is owned by the Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte Ltd but managed by Synergy Marine Group, also based in Singapore. It was carrying Maersk customers’ cargo, according to a statement from the shipping company.
In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.
“We are deeply concerned by this incident and are closely monitoring the situation,” Maersk said in the statement.
Synergy, which describes itself as a leading ship manager with more than 600 vessels under its guidance, issued a statement on its website acknowledging the incident and reporting no injuries among its crew and no pollution in the water. There were two pilots on board and 22 crew members in all, according to Synergy, all of them from India.
USA TODAY reached out to Synergy on Tuesday, but the company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
巨大な鋼鉄製の構造物は頑丈そうに見えるが、ナイトによると鋼鉄は大きさのわりに比較的軽い。このため間違った方向に十分な力で押したり引いたりされると、紙のように折れることもあるという。
衝突によるとてつもない威力
今回の事故の現場となったフランシス・スコット・キー橋は、橋が複数部分に分かれていない「一体型」である。鋼鉄材を三角形が連続するように組み合わせて重量を支える「トラス橋」と呼ばれる構造だ。中央トラス部分は全長366mにも及ぶ。中央トラスは3つの水平部分(スパン)からなり、ふたつの橋脚に支えられて水上に渡されていた。同様の構造をもつ橋としては、世界で3番目の大きさとなる。
「橋脚を取り去ってしまえば、堅牢さを保つものはほとんどありません」と、ナイトは言う。「映像を見ての通り、3つのスパンすべてが引きずり降ろされるのです」
一方で、中央トラスから独立した両端のスパンは、崩落を免れている。ナイトの見立てによると、橋の構造的欠陥を示唆する証拠はないという。エンジニアリング企業のHardesty & Hanoverは取材に対し、2019年にこの橋の検査を実施したことと、その後も複数の検査をしたことを認めた。一方で、構造の状態について詳しくは言及しなかった。現在、同社にさらなるコメントを求めているところだ。なお、米連邦高速道路局は昨年7月、この橋は安全基準を満たしていることを明らかにしている。
コンテナ船の衝突によるとてつもない威力を甘く見てはならないと、ナイトは補足する。こうした船が完全に停止するには、莫大な力と相当な(数分単位の)時間が必要なのだ。
フランシス・スコット・キー橋は1977年に完成した。ナイトによると、近年では同様の場所に橋を建設する際に、船の衝突のダメージが軽減されるように耐衝撃構造を組み込むことが一般化しているという。例えば、水中防護壁や橋脚の基部を補強するコンクリート構造といったものだ。しかし、たとえこうした補強がされていても、大規模衝突による被害は甚大なものになりうる。
2015年に完成したシンガポール船籍のダリ号において、照明が明滅した理由はわかっていない。「重大な異常を示唆するものです」と、ノースカロライナ州のキャンベル大学の海事史学者で、今回の事故を分析したYouTube動画も投稿しているサルバトーレ・メルコグリアーノは言う。
なぜ主要な橋脚に“まっすぐ”衝突したのか?
事故当時、船にはボルティモア港の2人のパイロット(港湾の内外など、特定水域の航行を補助するために乗船する船員)が乗っていた。ダリ号は船舶自動識別装置(AIS)により位置情報を発信しており、8.5ノット(時速約15km)で航行中だった。AISのデータによると、事故の直前に船は約6ノット(同11km)に速度を落としていた。
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気象予報士、増田有俊だけど質問ある? | Tech Support
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ビットコインの「半減期」が到来、対応を迫られる採掘事業者たち
ビットコインの「半減期」が到来、対応を迫られる採掘事業者たち
BY JOEL KHALILI
ドバイで起きた洪水の原因が「人工降雨」ではないと言える理由
ドバイで起きた洪水の原因が「人工降雨」ではないと言える理由
BY AMIT KATWALA
ボストン・ダイナミクスのヒト型ロボットが大幅に進化、そのありえない動きから見えてきたこと(動画あり)
ボストン・ダイナミクスのヒト型ロボットが大幅に進化、そのありえない動きから見えてきたこと(動画あり)
BY CARLTON REID
なお、2人のパイロットとダリ号の船員は全員の無事が確認された。この船の管理会社のSynergy Groupは3月26日(米国時間)に発表した声明で、船員に負傷者はいないことを明らかにしている。
ABC Newsの報道によると、ダリ号の乗員が必死に救難信号を出し、衝突直前であることを運輸局の職員に知らせようとしたという。ABCが確認したサイバーセキュリティ・社会基盤安全保障庁の報告書によると、ダリが「推進力を失う」一方で、乗員は船の「制御を失った」ことを認識していたという。
メリーランド州知事のウェス・ムーアは、救難信号のおかげで橋上の通行を止めることができたと報道陣に語っている。ムーアによると、それは「何人もの命を救った」介入行為だったという。
キャンベル大学のメルコグリアーノは、これだけの大きさの船が針路を急に変えることは非常に難しいと指摘する。映像では船の煙突から黒い煙が突然上がる様子が見てとれるが、これは機関動作の何らかの変化を示している。
今回の事故で特に問題なのは、船が主要な橋脚のひとつにまっすぐに衝突した点だ。明らかに針路を外れている。なぜそうしたことが起きたのか、原因はまだ公表されていない。
事故後の写真を見ると、橋の崩落した部分の下に船首が挟まれている様子がわかる。いかりの鎖も写っているので、ある時点でいかりが降ろされたことになるが、それが衝突の前なのか後なのかは不明だ。しかし、鎖は斜めになっているように見える。メルコグリアーノによると、これは衝突の直前にいかりが降ろされ、短時間だけ引きずられたことを示唆している可能性がある。
船の衝突事故を専門分野のひとつとするロンドンの法律事務所Quadrant Chambersの弁護士ジェームズ・ターナーは、ダリのような種類の商船が衝突を避けられるようにするための自動システムが搭載されていなかったのだろうと指摘する。それでも乗員は、レーダーやAIS、それに目視で情報を得られたはずだ。
こうしたなか、データ収集システムから当時の正確な状況が明らかになる可能性がある。商船は航空機と同じように、データや音声の記録装置をブリッジに備えており、事故調査の重要な情報源になることが多い。
「船長がボタンを押すと、最後の2時間の音声記録が保存されます。機関や操舵など、船のさまざまな部分のデータもすべて保存されます」と、ターナーは説明する。「データはダウンロードして検索することが可能です」
また、AISに記録された事故当時の船の推定速度は「99.99%正確」だろうと、ターナーは言う。
小さな問題も深刻な影響に
当面は崩落した橋にいた人々を見つけることが事故対応の焦点になる。すでに2人が救助され、そのうちひとりは病院に運ばれている。6人の建設作業員が、いまだに行方不明だ。
今回の惨事は海運業にとって困難な時期に起きた。ここ数カ月、パナマ運河が干ばつの影響を受ける一方で、紅海では複数の船舶がフーシ派の攻撃を受けている。それに、ソマリア沖での海賊行為も再び増えている。スエズ運河で起きたエバーギブン号の座礁は、まだ記憶に新しい。わずか3年前の出来事だ。
ボルティモア港当局は声明において、港は閉鎖されていない(港の路上ではまだ車両が走行している)が、新たな通知を出すまで船の出入りを停止すると宣言している。AISのデータを見ると、港の外には12隻ほどの商船が停泊しているが、崩落した橋やダリ号のために入港できない状態だ。
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ビットコインの「半減期」が到来、対応を迫られる採掘事業者たち
ビットコインの「半減期」が到来、対応を迫られる採掘事業者たち
BY JOEL KHALILI
ドバイで起きた洪水の原因が「人工降雨」ではないと言える理由
ドバイで起きた洪水の原因が「人工降雨」ではないと言える理由
BY AMIT KATWALA
ボストン・ダイナミクスのヒト型ロボットが大幅に進化、そのありえない動きから見えてきたこと(動画あり)
ボストン・ダイナミクスのヒト型ロボットが大幅に進化、そのありえない動きから見えてきたこと(動画あり)
BY CARLTON REID
陸軍工兵司令部が川から鉄橋の残骸を撤去し終えるまでには、しばらくかかることだろう。残骸は船舶の航行にとっての大きな脅威になっている。
「港にいるすべての船が足止めされています」と、メルコグリアーノは言う。そして、ボルティモア港はクルマの輸送や石炭の輸出に重要な役割を果たしていると指摘する。
メルコグリアーノによると、全体として見れば現代の海運は極めて安全な状況にある。だが、貿易の量とスピードのために、ひとたび問題が起きると深刻な影響が出やすいのだという。
「これまでにないペースで荷物が移動していて、ミスが許される範囲はとても狭くなっています。ひとつ間違えると、その影響が大きく広がる傾向が見られます」
(Originally published on wired.com, edited by Daisuke Takimoto)
By Jonathan Franklin, Jason Breslow, Rachel Treisman,Ayana Archie
In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.
At least six people are presumed dead following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, officials said.
The bridge fell into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, sending several people plunging into the frigid waters below.
During a news update Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard told reporters they are ending an active search and rescue operation for the six people left unaccounted for at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that based on the length of time since the bridge collapsed and the water temperatures, they don't believe that search teams are going to find any of these individuals still alive.
Gilreath told reporters that the Coast Guard is not leaving, but is going to "transition to a different phase."
The recovery phase will begin at 6 a.m. local time Wednesday when divers will begin searching for remains of all missing victims, Gilreath said.
Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., Secretary of Maryland State Police, told reporters the conditions have changed and made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water.
He emphasized that police will still have surface ships out in the water overnight.
"We're hoping to put those divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to do our very best to recover those six missing people," Butler said.
The collision set off a rapid search-and-rescue operation. Eight people from a construction crew that was working to repair potholes on the bridge are thought to have fallen into the water, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters.
Authorities did not believe any drivers were submerged in their cars, Wiedefeld said.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, collapsed around 1:30 a.m. when it was struck by a massive cargo vessel named the Dali. Dramatic video of the collision shows the hulking ship–the length of more than three football fields– slamming into one of the bridge's pillars, and then an expanse of the bridge falling into the water instantly.
The Dali, a Singapore-flagged ship, had left Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to Marine Traffic, a maritime data site.
Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the ship, said in a statement that all 22 crew members are accounted for and that there were no injuries resulting from the crash. The company also said there was no pollution to the water.
In a briefing for the media, Moore said the crew of the container ship had notified authorities about a power outage onboard shortly before the collision. The crew notified authorities of "a power issue," Moore said, confirming earlier reports that they had lost power on the ship.
The ship was traveling at approximately 8 knots when it hit the bridge, Moore said. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, officials feared motorists might be submerged in the river, but Moore said that a mayday signal was issued with enough time for authorities to stop the flow of traffic coming over the bridge.
A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship.
"I have to say I'm thankful for the folks who once the warning came up, and once notification came up that there was a mayday, who literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives," Moore said.
FBI and state officials said the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of any terrorist attack. Moore said the Francis Scott Key Bridge was fully up to code and there was no structural issue with the bridge.
"In fact, the bridge was actually fully up to code," Moore said.
The ship has had at least one previous accident
Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the East Coast, was suspended "until further notice," port officials announced, as search-and-rescue operations continued and the preliminary investigation into the crash was getting underway.
"This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed," port officials said in a statement. "Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals."
Gov. Moore declared a state of emergency and said his office was in close communication with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The secretary was due to arrive in Baltimore to visit the crash site and receive updates on the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate what happened, announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that it was launching a "go team" to Baltimore.
Prior to the crash, the ship had completed 27 inspections, according to a database by the maritime safety site Equasis. In one inspection at a port in Chile last year, the ship was determined to have a deficiency related to "propulsion and auxiliary machinery," according to Equasis.
In 2016, an inspection found "hull damage impairing sea worthiness" after the ship hit a dock on its way out of the port of Antwerp. Video of the incident shows the stern of the ship scraping against the quay as it attempted to exit the North Sea container terminal.
The bridge's collapse leaves Baltimore and travelers along the East Coast without a vital transit corridor for the foreseeable future. The four-lane, 1.6-mile-long bridge carries some 11.3 million vehicles each year, according to state data, and is one of three ways to get through Baltimore on the interstate.
Reconstructing the bridge will be a "long-term build," Moore told reporters.
Speaking from the White House, President Biden said he intends for the federal government to "pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge."
"We're gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible," Biden said. "Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're gonna do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers."
The bridge isn't just a vital transportation route. It also has a special historical significance.
It opened to the public in March 1977, but its history goes much deeper than that. Scholars believe it stood within 100 yards of the site where its namesake, Francis Scott Key, witnessed the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.
Key, an American lawyer, watched the battle from the British warship he had boarded to negotiate the release of a detained American civilian. The awe he felt at seeing the flag rise the next morning inspired him to write "Defense of Fort McHenry," which was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.
Shippers are scrambling to re-route their cargo
Roughly $80 billion worth of cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore each year. But with the port's shipping channels now closed indefinitely due to the accident, shippers have been left scrambling to find alternate routes to transport their goods to and from the East Coast.
Some vessels have already been diverted to Norfolk, Va., Margie Shapiro, who runs a freight handling business in Baltimore, told NPR. Other traffic could be re-routed through New York or Philadelphia.
The Dali was being chartered by Maersk and carrying cargo for Maersk customers, the shipping giant said in a statement. The company said it would be omitting Baltimore from its services "until it is deemed safe for passage through this area."
Cargo already at the Port of Baltimore will have to travel overland, but truck traffic will also be snarled by the loss of the bridge.
"The whole ecosystem is going to be a little bit off," Shapiro said. "When the ecosystem gets messy, things get messy. Freight rates go up. The world gets a little bit chaotic."
NPR's Dave Mistich and Scott Horsley contributed to this report.
PUBLISHED: 10:04 GMT, 26 March 2024 | UPDATED: 12:28 GMT, 26 March 2024
Shocking tracking video reveals how the Dali container ship changed course and appeared to slow down as it seemingly lost power twice before colliding with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and causing it to collapse early Tuesday morning.
Playback animation from MarineTraffic shows the Singaporean-flagged container setting sail from Seagirt Martine Terminal near Point Breeze around 00:24am local time before suddenly pivoting south and heading southeast towards the bridge.
The 1,000ft (299m) vessel, which was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, steadies itself in the middle of the Patapsco River and slows before colliding with the bridge near Fort Carroll at 01:28am, collapsing it.
Shocking footage of its approach reveals how the vessel appeared to suddenly lose power before making a partial recovery on its approach. The ship is then seen billowing black smoke into the night sky before losing power again and abruptly pivoting towards one of the structural supports holding the bridge up.
Upon colliding with the structure, the ship appears to lose power a third time as the bridge collapses dramatically around it, first breaking around the support before breaking in the middle and losing balance on its eastern pillar.
Agencies received emergency calls around 01:30am reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge, according to Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, who described the scene as a 'developing mass casualty event'.
Six hours on, rescue workers are racing against time to save the lives at least seven people believed to have plunged into the frigid 47F (8C) waters, with initial reports indicating around 20 construction workers were also on the busy crossing when it was hit.
The Maryland Department of Transportation confirmed there is an active search and rescue mission as of 7.30am. At the first press conference around 6:30am, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said two people had been pulled from the water. One was unhurt, the other had to be rushed to a local hospital with 'serious injuries.'
Video showed the horrifying moment one of the bridge's supporting beams collapses as the container ship collided with it, bringing the roadway above plummeting some 180ft into the cold waters below.
The middle of the bridge then appears to break apart under the strain before the weight of the unbalanced end sees it too topple backwards into the water.
The ship is also seen to catch fire, with thick, black smoke billowing out of it.
The loud bang of the bridge suddenly collapsing left some stunned and confused, one resident saying he thought his neighbor was playing an 'April Fools' joke' on him when he heard the news.
Michael Brown told NBC News his neighbor thought an earthquake had caused the dramatic collapse.
As rescuers began desperate efforts to save the lives of those pulled under with the bridge, Kevin Cartwright of the Fire Department said the unfolding incident was a 'dire emergency'.
'Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.'
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it's too early to know how many people were affected.
He called the collapse a 'developing mass casualty event'.
He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Cartwright also confirmed that the vessel is called 'Dali'.
Both MarineTraffic and Vessel Finder show a vessel of that name heading from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
MarineTraffic reported that the actual time of departure was 1am on Tuesday morning, just half an hour before it crashed into the bridge.
It was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 22.
Despite sustaining damage, the ship does not appear to have sunk at the time of writing.
The Dali is 984ft (nearly 300m) long and 157ft (around 48m) wide, according to MarineTraffic.
The 1.6-mile bridge, which is part of I-695, crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore's harbor. Built in 1977, the main span of the truss bridge at 1,200ft is the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world.
The structure carries around 12million vehicles every year. It carries the Baltimore Beltway/Interstate 695 over the river.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted on X that, in light of the incident, all lanes have been closed in both directions and traffic is being detoured.
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has since spoken to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Mr Scott, according to a post from the secretary on X.
Buttigieg said: 'Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.'
The Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the early hours of the morning
The container ship Dali rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to snap in a few places and plunge into the river below leaving rescuers looking for around seven people
ByCharlie JonesNews Reporter
The ship that caused the Baltimore bridge collapse had been involved in a crash before, it has been revealed.
The container ship that hit the bridge has been identified as Singapore-flagged ship the Dali and was heading to to Colombo in Sri Lanka at the time of the collision.
In 2016, it collided with a dock at Port of Antwerp while leaving the port. It has been reported that incident was caused by mistake of the Master and pilot on board, according to Vessel Finder.
The ship is now flying under a Singapore flag, WTOP radio station reported, citing Petty Officer Matthew West from the Coast Guard in Baltimore.
Synergy Marine Group, which owns and manages the ship, confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.
Inital reports suggest the ship lost propulsion. ABC quoted the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as saying: "The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and a collision with the bridge was possible.
"The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse."
The container ship Dali has overall length of 300m and can carry 111,000 tonnes of cargo. It was built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.
Two people were pulled from the waters under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace.
“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed. The FBI was also on the scene.
Map shows where the boat struck the bridge ( Image: Google)
Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the “Dali” — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Originally known as the Outer Harbor Crossing, the bridge was renamed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 1976, while still under construction. The steel arch-shaped continuous through truss bridge's main span of 1,200 ft was the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world. It was named after amateur poet Francis Scott Key, the author behind the American national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.
By Andy Sullivan, Joseph Campbell and Gabriella Borter
BALTIMORE, March 26 (Reuters) - Six workers were missing and presumed dead from a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore Harbor early on Tuesday after a massive cargo ship crippled by a power loss rammed into the structure, forcing the closure of one of the busiest ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
With dive teams facing increasingly treacherous conditions in the darkened, wreckage-strewn waters, active search-and-rescue operations were suspended about 18 hours after the accident, U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police officials said.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said there was no hope of finding the missing workers alive due to the frigid water and the length of time elapsed since the accident.
State Police Colonel Roland Butler said authorities hoped to return divers to the water after sunrise on Wednesday in an effort to recover the workers' remains.
The Singapore-flagged container vessel named Dali, heading out of Baltimore Harbor bound for Sri Lanka, plowed into a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the mouth of the Patapsco River at about 1:30 a.m. (0530 GMT).
A trestled section of the of the 1.6-mile (2.57 km) span almost immediately crumpled into the icy water, sending vehicles and people into the river.
Rescuers pulled two survivors to safety, one of whom was hospitalized. They and the six missing were part of a work crew filling potholes on the road surface of the bridge, officials said earlier.
BIGGER DISASTER AVERTED
The ship reported a power failure before impact, which enabled officials to stop traffic on the bridge before the collapse.
"By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives last night," Maryland Governor Wes Moore said at a midday news briefing. The bridge was up to code with no known structural issues, Moore said.
There was no evidence of foul play, officials said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott described a scene of twisted metal shooting into the sky.
"It was something out of an action movie. It was something you never thought you'd see," he said.
Video footage on social media showed the vessel slamming into the bridge in darkness, the headlights of vehicles visible on the span as it crashed into the water and the ship caught fire.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said closure of one of the country's busiest shipping lanes until further notice would have a "major and protracted impact to supply chains." The Port of Baltimore handles more automobile cargo than any other U.S. port - more than 750,000 vehicles in 2022, according to port data.
General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab and Ford Motor (F.N), opens new tab will reroute affected shipments, but the companies said the disruption would be minimal.
The 948-foot (288.95 m) vessel had experienced a momentary loss of propulsion and dropped anchors as part of emergency procedures before impact, its management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd reported, according to the Singapore Port Authority.
The Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, rammed into one of the pillars of the bridge, according Synergy. All 22 crew members aboard the vessel were accounted for, it said.
Besides impacts to auto shipments, the port closure could force shippers to divert Baltimore-bound cargo from containers to bulk material. It could create bottlenecks and increase delays and costs on the Eastern seaboard, experts say.
President Joe Biden said the U.S. Coast Guard responded quickly to the mayday call and commended the fast action of Maryland transportation officials who closed the bridge before it was struck.
Biden promised to visit Baltimore, 40 miles (64 km) away, as soon as possible and said he wanted the federal government to pay to rebuild the bridge.
"I'm directing my team to move heaven and Earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible," Biden said. The bridge, named for the author of the Star-Spangled Banner, opened in 1977.
'SHOCKING SIGHT'
National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said a team of 24 investigators and other agency personnel were on the scene but held off boarding the ship during search-and-rescue operations. She said personnel from Singapore safety agencies would arrive in Baltimore on Wednesday.
Jayme Krause, 32, was working a night shift on shore when the cart of packages in front of her shook violently in what sounded like an intense thunderstorm.
A co-worker at an Amazon logistics facility told her the bridge had collapsed and she ran out to look.
"I went over there, and sure as anything, it was gone, the whole bridge was just like, there was nothing there," she told Reuters. "It was a shocking sight to see."
The bridge serves as the main thoroughfare for motorists between New York and Washington seeking to avoid downtown Baltimore. It was one of three ways to cross the harbor, with a traffic volume of 31,000 vehicles per day, or 11.3 million a year.
The same ship was involved in an incident in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2016, hitting a quay as it tried to exit the North Sea container terminal.
An inspection in 2023 carried out in San Antonio,Chile, found "propulsion and auxiliary machinery" deficiencies, according to data on the public Equasis website, which provides information on ships.
Tuesday's disaster may be the worst U.S. bridge collapse since 2007, when the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River, killing 13 people.
The Dali was chartered by shipping company Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), opens new tab at the time of the incident, the Danish company said in a statement.
More than 40 ships remained inside Baltimore port including small cargo ships, tug boats and pleasure craft, data from ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic showed. At least 30 other ships had signalled their destination was Baltimore, the data showed.
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Reporting by Joseph Campbell, Andy Sullivan, Andrea Shalal, David Shephardson, Steve Holland, Christian Schmollinger, Rich McKay, David Shepardson, Gabriela Borter, Shubham Kalia, Harshita Meenaktshi, Shreya Biswas, Jyoti Narayan, Kat Jackson, Jonathan Saul; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Ros Russell; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Josie Kao, Howard Goller and Stephen Coates
Baltimore Police Department told NBC News it was notified of a partial bridge collapse early Tuesday, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md.via Harford Co., MD Fire & EMS
By Patrick Smith and Julia Jester
A major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, partially collapsed Tuesday morning after it was hit by a container ship, possibly leaving a number of people in the river below, authorities said.
A spokesperson for Baltimore Police Department told NBC News that it was responding to the incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an enormous steel structure which carries the Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area.
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Detective Niki Fennoy said in a statement.
The U.S. Coast Guard told NBC News it received a report at 1:27 a.m. ET that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was a 948-foot vessel named DALI, a container ship sailing under a Singaporean flag.
"USCG has deployed three response boats, and pollution responders are en route," said a spokesman, Petty Officer First Class Matthew West.
Follow live updates here.
The Maryland Transport Authority confirmed that the I-695 was shut because of the Key Bridge collapsing due to a "ship strike."
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. said on X that he was aware of the incident and in touch with the fire service chief, the mayor of Baltimore and other local officials. “Please pray for those impacted,” he said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said on X he was on his way to the bridge. “Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he said.
NBC News has contacted other emergency response agencies for further details.
Images posted to social media early Tuesday show the mangled wreck of the bridge rising out of the river in the dawn twilight. Video showed a stationary ship with its lights still on, against the dark outline of the ruined steel structure. A livestream shot of the collision shows the ship slowly move into the bridge’s support as cars and trucks travel on the road above.
Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge it later named after the author of the American national anthem. The bridge is more than 8,500 feet, or 1.2 miles, long in total. Its main section spans 1,200 feet and was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.
Cranes toppled and containers floating in the harbor after the docking incident in Turkey (General Directorate of Maritime Affairs)
[Brief] A Hong Kong-registered containership arriving at the private container port in Kocaeli, Turkey was unable to stop while maneuvering and knocked over the large container cranes. Initial reports said no one was injured in the dramatic accident, but later reports from the Turkish media said that the operator of one of the cranes was seriously injured in the incident.
The YM Witness, a 145,000 dwt containership built in 2015 and operated by Yang Ming, was arriving at the port on Saturday afternoon, March 16. The ship is 1,207 feet (368 meters) in length with a capacity of 14,000 TEU.
The vessel had a pilot aboard but for unknown reasons appeared to be coming toward the dock at a steep angle and was unable to stop its forward motion. The vessel in succession knocks over the large cranes used to load and unload the containers. The port authority is reporting that several containers were also knocked from the vessel into the harbor.
Dockworkers can be seen running in some of the videos as the cranes are pushed and then come crashing down. Local police and fire responded to the incident which is currently under investigation.
Oil has been spotted as far away as Casian Island, off the north coast of the western island of Palawan, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of where the tanker sank.
As feared, oil has also drifted north to the Verde Island Passage -- a busy sea lane between Mindoro and the Philippines' main island of Luzon.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga said previously that the area was "globally recognised" for its marine biodiversity.
The Philippine Coast Guard said clean-up operations on Monday removed oil from the shores of three villages on Verde Island, which is popular with divers.
Oil also has been spotted further along the passage at Tingloy municipality on Maricaban Island, part of Batangas province.
Residents and coast guard personnel have been removing oil-coated seaweed and other debris from affected areas.
Tens of thousands of people have been affected by the spill, with scores falling ill. The government is distributing food packs and other assistance.
Among the hardest hit are fishermen, who have been ordered to stay on shore until they can fish safely.
jae-amj/smw
The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This story was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com.
Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report into the engine-room fire on board the Maltese registered oil / chemical tanker GRETA K within Leixões port limits on 21st March 2023.
The incident
At about 1542 (LT) on 20 March 2023, Greta K departed Sines, Portugal, loaded with a cargo of oil products, bound for Leixões, Portugal, with an ETA of 1500 on 21 March 2023. Soon after picking up the pilot for Leixões, and as the vessel was about to enter the port, a fire was detected in the engine-room at around 1518 on 21 March 2023. The engine control room was vacated, the quick-closing valves (QCVs) were activated, and the engine-room fire dampers were closed. After all the crew members were accounted for, the vessel’s fixed, carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishing system was released at 1530, with the crew members boundary cooling the area.
At about 1537, tugboat Tetris arrived on the scene and started boundary cooling of the casing around the funnel. At 1544, the CO2 pressure was reported to read zero, confirming the discharge of the bank of CO2 cylinders. Tugboat Prometeu was made fast forward at 1600, to prevent the vessel from drifting ashore. The vessel was towed away to seaward and by 2103, all crew members were disembarked due to safety concerns.
Despite the port authorities’ efforts to extinguish the fire, the fire fighting continued up to 27 March, until salvors appointed by the Company declared that the fire was extinct at 1345. On 28 March, the vessel was berthed at 1730, with the assistance of three tugboats.
Analysis
Purpose
The purpose of a marine safety investigation is to determine the circumstances and safety factors of the accident as a basis for making recommendations, to prevent further marine casualties or incidents from occurring in the future.
Fatigue and Alcohol
Analysis of the hours of work records showed that they were not in excess of those required by the STCW and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended). The safety investigation was unable to determine the quality of the crew members’ rest, however, in the absence of any evidence that would indicate otherwise, fatigue was not considered a contributing factor to this accident.
Alcohol tests were not carried out as most of the crew were landed ashore due to safety concerns. However, the crew members’ actions did not suggest that alcohol was a contributing factor to this accident.
Conclusions
Findings and safety factors are not listed in any order of priority.
Immediate Cause of the Accident: Fuel oil sprayed out from a fuel pipe flange that was either not tight or became loose due to vibration.
Conditions and Other Safety Factors
A gap in the main engine turbine’s exhaust gas piping insulation provided the heat source to ignite the leaking oil spray;
The engine room’s smoke and heat detectors did not detect the fire as they appeared to have been either isolated or faulty;
Failure of the hyper-mist fire extinguishing system was likely to have contributed to the spread of fire and further damage to the machinery and
engine-room;
The damage to the automatic fire damper during the early stages of the fire may have likely contributed to prolonging the fire as it reduced the
effectiveness of the CO2 and kept the fire alive with an intake of air from the damaged ventilation.
Other Findings
The routine functional test of the hyper-mist system on 19 March 2023, did not ascertain the system’s proper functionality;
The fire detectors appeared to have been faulty for more than three days prior to the fire and remained unreported.
Actions taken
Safety Actions Taken During the Course of the Safety Investigation
The Company ensured that Greta K was safely manned at all times. During the ship’s stay in Leixões, Portugal, crew members and members of the salvors’ team remained on duty for safety reasons and to ensure that developments were assessed on a 24-hour basis. Moreover, a manning of 12 crew members was constantly kept on board during the repairs at the shipyard in Genoa, Italy.
Recommendations
In view of the conclusions reached and taking into consideration the safety actions taken during the course of the safety investigation,
The Company is recommended to:
04/2024_R1 Circulate the findings of this safety investigation to all vessels under its management;
04/2024_R2 Review the routine testing regime of the hyper-mist system on board and consider the re-routing of the system and / or establish that it is suitably
protected to withstand elevated temperatures;
04/2024_R3 Inspect the shielding of pipe flanges carrying fuel oil and heated surfaces, to eliminate the risk of fire.
Keoyoung Sun, a capsized South Korean-flagged chemical tanker, is seen off the western Japan city of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan, March 20, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS
Mike Schuler
Eight seafarers have died and two others are still missing after a South Korean chemical tanker, the Keoyoung Sun, capsized in severe weather off the coast of Yamaguchi prefecture in western Japan, on Wednesday.
The 68-meter-long tanker had initially anchored due to adverse weather conditions. However, by Wednesday morning, the vessel was reportedly listing heavily, prompting a distress call for assistance. A total of 11 crew members were on board at the time of the incident.
Japanese public broadcaster, NHK, reported that nine of the crew members have been retrieved so far, out of which eight have been confirmed dead. The search and rescue operations for the remaining two crew members are still ongoing.
The one crew member who survived is from Indonesia, authorities said.
According to reports, the Keoyoung Sun was transporting 980 tonnes of acrylic acid at the time of the incident. Fortunately, no spillage has been detected so far.
In a statement, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, expressed his sadness over the loss of life in the incident and thanked the search and rescue teams from the Japan Coast Guard for their efforts.
“I extend my deepest condolences and those of the entire IMO family to the families of those who have lost their lives.
“In due course, the investigation report into the casualty should be submitted to IMO for consideration,” Dominguez said.
Equasis data shows the ship is owned and operated by Keoyoung Shipping of South Korea. The ship was built in 1996 and has a deadweight of 1,168 tonnes.
The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that its Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a distress call from the 3,069 dwt, general cargo vessel Hung Phat 89 at around 4pm local time on 10 March. The Vietnamese-flagged cargoship was about 380 nm east of Vung Tau, Vietnam, within the Singapore Maritime Search and Rescue Region at the time the call was received.
“MRCC Singapore immediately issued navigational broadcasts for vessels in the vicinity to keep a lookout and report sightings of the vessel in distress, and also alerted MRCC Vietnam,” MPA said.
At around 7pm on 10 March the MRCC Vietnam informed the Singapore authorities that all 11 crew had been rescued from the Hung Phat 89, and that the vessel had sunk.
The 2006-built Hung Phat 89 is owned Thai Duong Marine Transport in Vietnam.
LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - A Houthi missile attack killed three seafarers on a Red Sea merchant ship on Wednesday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said, the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world's busiest trade lanes.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which set the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's port of Aden.
In an earlier message on X responding to the Houthi claim, Britain's embassy wrote: "At least 2 innocent sailors have died. This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping. They must stop."
The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign in solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza.
Britain and the United States have been launching retaliatory strikes against the Houthis, and the confirmation of fatalities could lead to pressure for stronger military action.
CENTCOM said the Houthi strike also injured at least four crew members and caused "significant damage" to the ship. Earlier, a shipping source said four mariners had been severely burned and three were missing after the attack.
The Greek operators of the True Confidence said the vessel was drifting and on fire. They said no information was available about the status of the 20 crew and three armed guards on board, who included 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, an Indian and a Nepali national.
On Thursday, two of the victims were identified as Filipino seafarers by the Philippines' ministry for migrant workers. It said in a statement two other Filipinos were severely injured in the attack and called for "continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and to address the causes of the current conflict in the Middle East".
A U.S. defence official said smoke was seen coming from the True Confidence. The official, who also declined to be identified, told Reuters a lifeboat had been seen in the water near the ship.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received a report of an incident 54 nautical miles southwest of Aden, which lies near the entrance to the Red Sea, adding the vessel had been abandoned by the crew and was "no longer under command".
"Coalition forces are supporting the vessel and the crew," UKMTO said.
Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the leading seafarers union, called for urgent action to protect its members.
"We have consistently warned the international community and the maritime industry about the escalating risks faced by seafarers in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Today ... we see those warnings tragically confirmed," Cotton said.
Four days ago, the Rubymar, a UK-owned bulk carrier, became the first ship to sink as a result of a Houthi attack, after floating for two weeks with severe damage from a missile strike. All crew were safely evacuated from that vessel.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. The cost of insuring a seven-day voyage through the Red Sea has risen by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While the militia has said it would attack vessels with links to the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel, shipping industry sources say all ships could be at risk.
The True Confidence is owned by the Liberian-registered company True Confidence Shipping and operated by the Greece-based Third January Maritime, both companies said in their joint statement. They said the ship had no link to the United States.
Reporting by Jonathan Saul, additional reporting by Enas Alashray and Muhammad Al Gebaly in Cairo, Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Mikhail Flores in Manila; Writing by Angus MacSwan and Peter Graff; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Barbara Lewis, Daniel Wallis and Michael Perry
On February 21, 2024, the Sm Jeju Lng1 collided with a ferry 6 kilometers off Yoseo Island in South Korea. The gas carrier received severe damage to its side. The ferry suffered damage to the bow, it is not known to what extent. At the time of the LNG accident, the carrier was without cargo. 77 crew members of both ships were rescued. The vessels are not in danger of sinking. No casualties were reported.
22nd February 2024 – (Guangzhou) Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, was struck by a vessel on Thursday (22nd) at 5.30am, resulting in the bridge’s collapse and vehicles plunging into the water.
According to a statement released locally, an empty cargo vessel traveling from Nansha, Foshan to Nansha, Guangzhou, collided with a pier of the Lixinsha Bridge while passing through the Hongqili Waterway. This collision resulted in the fracture of the bridge deck.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou Public Transportation Group Co., Ltd has issued a statement stating that Liang Jinhua, a driver from the Nansha Bus Fleet, was driving bus number Guangdong A08386D (self-designated number N17049). He was carrying out operating duties on the Nansha 9 Route, traveling from Pearl River Street (Zhujiang Second Road) Station to the final destination of Tuanjie Wei. At 5.31am, while crossing the Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District, the bridge was hit by a ship, causing the bridge deck to collapse. The bus, with only the driver on board, subsequently fell into the water, and the driver could not be contacted. The scene is currently cordoned off, and rescue personnel are unable to enter.
According to a report from the Guangzhou Maritime Search and Rescue Centre, four vehicles and one motorcycle fell into the water and onto a ship respectively after the bridge was struck, resulting in two deaths and three missing persons. Additionally, the owner of the involved vessel has been detained.
As per information released by the Guangzhou Nansha WeChat account, around 5.30 am on Thursday, an empty container ship travelling from Nanhai, Foshan to Nansha, Guangzhou, collided with a bridge pier on the Hongqi Lixi Waterway, causing the bridge deck of Lixinsha Bridge to fracture. Preliminary investigations indicate that out of the four vehicles and one electric motorcycle involved, two vehicles fell into the water, while the other three fell onto the ship. As of now, two individuals have been rescued, two have died, one crew member suffered minor injuries, and three remain missing.
Lin Jianfeng, Chairman of the People’s Congress of Wanqingsha Town, stated that the surrounding residents have been evacuated. Relevant departments promptly arrived at the scene to carry out emergency rescue operations. Lixi Bridge serves as a primary transportation route for residents of Sanmin Island. Following the incident, traffic control measures have been implemented on the bridge. Zhong Weihong, the village branch secretary of Minjian Village on the island, mentioned that there is still a ferry available for residents’ transportation.
On Wednesday, nearly nine nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena off Bintulu, Malaysia, the OSV BOS AZLINA began taking in water. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) received a distress signal from BOS AZLINA, and at 11:56 a.m., the nearby patrol vessel Bot Kilat 44 was diverted for the rescue operation.
MMEA stated in a press release that upon arrival at the scene, the vessel BOS AZLINA was already half submerged, with all crew members (Indonesian nationals) still onboard. The Captain of BOS AZLINA stated that he had called for a water taxi (Kuda Laut 1) to rescue them. By 12:30 p.m., all crew members had been safely evacuated from the distressed vessel BOS AZLINA with the assistance of the water taxi and MMEA. All crew members are reported to be safe and cooperating in the investigation. MMEA is conducting the investigation, and the vessel agent has been contacted for further proceedings.
16日午前7時ごろ、小泊岬南灯台から約10キロ沖にいたトーゴ共和国船籍の貨物船「GUO MAO 1」(2998トン)から、第2管区海上保安本部に対し、「主機関(エンジン)が故障したため航行不能となった。小泊沖に停泊したい」と通報があった。同船はその後、日本海を南方向に漂流するなどし、午後1時35分ごろに青森県つがる市の約4キロ沖に停泊、これ以降は復旧作業を行っている。中国人2人とベトナム人12人の乗員にけがはない。油流出の被害も確認されていない。
16日午前7時ごろ、小泊岬南灯台から約10キロ沖にいたトーゴ共和国船籍の貨物船「GUO MAO 1」(2998トン)から、第2管区海上保安本部に対し、「主機関(エンジン)が故障したため航行不能となった。小泊沖に停泊したい」と通報があった。同船はその後、日本海を南方向に漂流するなどし、午後1時35分ごろに青森県つがる市の約4キロ沖に停泊、これ以降は復旧作業を行っている。中国人2人とベトナム人12人の乗員にけがはない。油流出の被害も確認されていない。
From the website of the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency
The cargo ship allegedly exported to Iran. Part of the image has been modified.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
An Osaka-based ship trading company and related locations have been searched over suspicions that the company violated the Customs Law by falsely declaring a used cargo ship was being exported to the United Arab Emirates when it actually went to Iran.
Iran is suspected of involvement in recent militant group attacks on commercial vessels in the Hormuz Strait area. The Metropolitan Police Department is working to clarify the details of the cargo ship’s export and what it was to be used for.
The ship trading and brokerage company allegedly submitted false documents to customs around May 2021, claiming that it would export a used 499-gross-ton ship to an UAE company, according to investigative sources.
The MPD’s Public Security Bureau determined that the cargo ship traveled to an Iran port via Southeast Asia after leaving Japan, based on analysis of the ship’s location data. The Osaka company had allegedly obtained permission from the Iranian side for the export, according to sources.
The cargo ship was built in 1997 and owned by entities including the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, a Yokohama-based incorporated administrative agency. The Osaka ship trading company successfully bid for the vessel in April 2021, securing it for approximately ¥32 million.
According to the company’s website, it serves as an intermediary for the sale of ships to countries such as the UAE, China and Singapore.
Although exporting ships to Iran is not prohibited, trading companies are often cautious about Iran-related business, according to the Foreign Ministry, because the United States has imposed its own economic sanctions on the country over Teheran’s nuclear development program and other issues.
Israel is at odds with Iran and has accused that country, which is alleged to be involved in attacks on commercial vessels, of converting used ships into military ships by installing drones and missiles.
SECTIONSHow Iran fuel oil exports beat U.S. sanctions in tanker odyssey to Asia
REUTERSLast Updated: Mar 20, 2019, 12:22:00 PM IST
fuel oil to Asia in recent months despite U.S. sanctions against such shipments, according to a Reuters analysis of ship-tracking data and port information, as well as interviews with brokers and traders.
The shipments were loaded onto tankers with documents showing the fuel oil was Iraqi. But three Iraqi oil industry sources and Prakash Vakkayil, a manager at United Arab Emirates (UAE) shipping services firm Yacht International Co, said the papers were forged.
The people said they did not know who forged the documents, nor when.
The transfers show at least some Iranian fuel oil is being traded despite the reimposition of sanctions in November 2018, as Washington seeks to pressure Iran into abandoning nuclear and missile programmes. They also show how some traders have revived tactics that were used to skirt sanctions against Iran between 2012 and 2016.
"Some buyers...will want Iranian oil regardless of U.S. strategic objectives to deny Tehran oil revenue, and Iran will find a way to keep some volumes flowing," said Peter Kiernan, lead energy analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
While the United States has granted eight countries temporary waivers allowing limited purchases of Iranian crude oil, these exemptions do not cover products refined from crude, including fuel oil, mainly used to power the engines of large ships.
NO RECORD AT BASRA
Documents forwarded to Reuters by ship owners say a 300,000 tonne-supertanker, the Grace 1, took on fuel oil at Basra, Iraq, between Dec. 10 and 12, 2018. But Basra port loading schedules reviewed by Reuters do not list the Grace 1 as being in port during those dates.
One Iraqi industry source with knowledge of the port's operations confirmed there were no records of the Grace 1 at Basra during this period.
Reuters examined data from four ship-tracking information providers - Refinitiv, Kpler, IHS Markit and Vessel Finder - to locate the Grace 1 during that time. All four showed that the Grace 1 had its Automatic Identification System (AIS), or transponder, switched off between Nov. 30 and Dec. 14, 2018, meaning its location could not be tracked.
The Grace 1 then re-appeared in waters near Iran's port of Bandar Assaluyeh, fully loaded, data showed. The cargo was transferred onto two smaller ships in UAE waters in January, from where one ship delivered fuel oil to Singapore in February.
Shipping documents showed about 284,000 tonnes of fuel oil were transferred in the cargoes tracked by Reuters, worth about $120 million at current prices.
Officials at Iran's oil ministry declined to comment.
Singapore customs did not respond to requests for comment.
The Grace 1, a Panamanian-flagged tanker, is managed by Singapore-based shipping services firm IShips Management Pte Ltd, according to data. IShips did not respond to several requests for comment via email or phone.
A Reuters reporter visited the office listed on IShips' website but was told by the current tenant that the company had moved out two years earlier.
SHIP-TO-SHIP TRANSFERS
The ship-tracking data analysed by Reuters showed the Grace 1 emerged from the period when it did not transmit its location almost 500 kilometres south of Iraq. It was close to the Iranian coast with its draught - how deep a vessel sits in water - near maximum, indicating its cargo tanks were filled.
The Grace 1 transferred its cargo to two smaller tankers between Jan. 16 and 22 in waters offshore Fujairah in the UAE, data showed.
One of those vessels, the 130,000 tonne-capacity Kriti Island, offloaded fuel oil into a storage terminal in Singapore around Feb. 5 to 7. Reuters was unable to determine who purchased the fuel oil for storage in Singapore.
The Kriti Island is managed by Greece's Avin International SA.
The tanker was chartered by Singapore-based Blutide Pte Ltd for its voyage to Singapore, Avin International's Chief Executive Officer George Mylonas told Reuters. Mylonas confirmed the Kriti Island took on fuel oil from the Grace 1.
There is no indication that Avin International knowingly shipped Iranian fuel oil. Mylonas said his firm had conducted all necessary due diligence to ensure the cargo's legitimate origin.
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN
Mylonas emailed Reuters a copy of a Certificate of Origin (COO) that he said was provided by the charterers - referring to Blutide - showing the Grace 1 loaded fuel oil at Basra on Dec. 10 and 12, 2018.
"The Certificate of Origin and all the information obtained did not reveal any connection with Iran, let alone that the cargo of fuel oil originated" from there, Mylonas wrote.
Mylonas said the Grace 1's owners, managers, shippers, receivers and charterers were screened by Avin International. "There were not circumstances that would make the COO of dubious origin," he said via email.
He said he had been told by the charterers that the Grace 1 only stopped in waters off Iran in late December and early January for "repairs of damaged diesel generators" before sailing to Fujairah.
The document provided by Mylonas says Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO certified the Grace 1 in December loaded a total of 284,261 tonnes of Iraqi fuel oil.
Reuters shared the document with a SOMO official in Iraq who said it was "faked" and "completely wrong". The official declined to be identified by name, citing the marketer's communications policy.
Two other Iraqi oil industry sources with direct knowledge of Basra port and oil industry operations also said the documentation was forged.
The two sources said the document bore the signature of a manager who was not working at Basra port on the stated dates. The document also bears contradictory dates: It indicates a loading period of Dec. 10 and 12, 2018 but a sign-off date for the transaction of Jan. 12, 2018.
'CONSIDER TO BE FORGED'
Data showed the second tanker into which the Grace 1 transferred cargo was the Marshal Z, also a 130,000-tonne vessel.
It was bound for Singapore in the first half of February but changed course on Feb. 15, parking off western Malaysia. Reuters was unable to determine who owns the Marshal Z, nor who chartered it.
Around Feb. 25, the Marshal Z transferred its cargo to another vessel called the Libya, owned and managed by Tripoli-based General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC).
A GNMTC spokesman said the Libya was chartered by Blutide, the same Singapore firm that chartered the Kriti Island.
Blutide registered as a company in Singapore on May 14, 2018. Its sole listed shareholder and only director, Singaporean Basheer Sayeed, said by telephone on Feb. 7 he was retired and not in a position to comment on the company's activity.
The Libya's owner GNMTC "was not aware, at any stage that the cargo is linked in any way to Iran," the company's spokesman said via email.
GNMTC provided Reuters with a copy of a COO that it said was issued by shipping services company Yacht International, based in Fujairah, showing the Marshal Z loaded Iraqi-origin fuel oil during a ship-to-ship transfer in UAE waters on Jan. 23.
However, Yacht International shipping manager Prakash Vakkayil said in an email his firm did not issue the certificate and "considers it to be forged".
The GNMTC spokesman did not respond to follow-up questions from Reuters.
As of March 20, data showed the Libya was located alongside the Marshal Z offshore western Malaysia, the position vessels typically adopt for ship-to-ship transfers.
Reuters could not immediately determine whether the fuel oil cargo the Libya had been carrying was still aboard the ship.
ndictment also alleges fraud conspiracy involving illegal exports of military antennas to Singapore and Hong Kong
WASHINGTON — Five individuals and four of their companies have been indicted as part of a conspiracy to defraud the United States that allegedly caused thousands of radio frequency modules to be illegally exported from the United States to Iran. At least 16 of those items were later found in unexploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq. Some of the defendants are also charged in a fraud conspiracy involving exports of military antennas to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Yesterday, authorities in Singapore arrested Wong Yuh Lan (Wong), Lim Yong Nam (Nam), Lim Kow Seng (Seng), and Hia Soo Gan Benson (Hia), all citizens of Singapore, in connection with a United States request for extradition. The United States is seeking their extradition to stand trial in the District of Columbia. The remaining individual defendant, Hossein Larijani, is a citizen and resident of Iran who remains at large.
The arrests and the indictment were announced by John Morton, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Lisa Monaco, assistant attorney general for national security; Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia; Mark Giuliano, executive assistant director of the FBI's National Security Branch; Eric L. Hirschhorn, under secretary of commerce; and David Adelman, U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
"One of Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) top enforcement priorities is preventing sensitive technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm American personnel or interests — whether at home or abroad," said ICE Director Morton. "This international investigation conducted by ICE's HSI and our law enforcement partners demonstrates the importance of preventing U.S. technology from falling into the wrong hands, where it could potentially be used to kill or injure our military members and our allies. Our agency will continue to work closely through our attachés to identify these criminals, dismantle their networks, and ensure they are fully prosecuted."
"Today's charges allege that the defendants conspired to defraud the United States and defeat our export controls by sending U.S.-origin components to Iran rather than to their stated final destination of Singapore. Ultimately, several of these components were found in unexploded improvised explosive devices in Iraq," said Assistant Attorney General Monaco. "This case underscores the continuing threat posed by Iranian procurement networks seeking to obtain U.S. technology through fraud and the importance of safeguarding that technology. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked on this extensive investigation."
"These defendants misled U.S. companies in buying parts that they shipped to Iran and that ended up in IEDs on the battlefield in Iraq," said U.S. Attorney Machen. "This prosecution demonstrates why the U.S. Attorney's Office takes cases involving misrepresentations regarding the intended use of sensitive technology so seriously. We hope for a swift response from Singapore to our request for extradition."
"This multi-year investigation highlights that acquiring property by deceit has ramifications that resonate beyond the bottom line and affects our national security and the safety of Americans worldwide," said FBI Executive Assistant Director Giuliano. "We continue to work side-by-side with our many partners in a coordinated effort to bring justice to those who have sought to harm Americans. We consider this investigation as the model of how we work cases - jointly with the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Commerce/Office of Export Enforcement and collectively with our foreign partners to address the threats posed by Iranian procurement networks to the national security interests of the United States both here and abroad."
"These cases are the product of vigorous, cooperative law enforcement focused on denying to Iran items that endanger our coalition forces on the battlefield in Iraq," said Under Secretary of Commerce Hirschhorn. "We will continue aggressively to go after such perpetrators -- no matter where they operate -- to guard against these types of threats."
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, David Adelman, praised the cooperation within the U.S. executive branch agencies and with the Singaporean authorities. "Twenty-first century law enforcement is most effective when countries work collaboratively as evidenced by this strong, cooperative effort between the U.S. and Singapore. Congratulations to all the officials in both our countries who made this happen," he said.
The Charges
The indictment, which was returned in the District of Columbia on Sept. 15, 2010, and unsealed today, includes charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, smuggling, illegal export of goods from the United States to Iran, illegal export of defense articles from the United States, false statements and obstruction of justice.
The charged defendants are Iranian national Larijani, 47, and his companies Paya Electronics Complex, based in Iran, and Opto Electronics Pte, Ltd., based in Singapore. Also charged is Wong, 39, an agent of Opto Electronics who was allegedly supervised by Larijani from Iran. The indictment also charges NEL Electronics Pte. Ltd., a company in Singapore, along with NEL's owner and director, Nam, 37. Finally, the indictment charges Corezing International Pte. Ltd., a company in Singapore that maintained offices in China, as well as Seng, 42, an agent of Corezing, and Hia, 44, a manager, director and agent of Corezing.
Wong, Nam, Seng and Hia allegedly conspired to defraud the United States by impeding U.S. export controls relating to the shipment of 6,000 radio frequency modules from a Minnesota company through Singapore to Iran, some of which were later found in unexploded IEDs in Iraq. Seng and Hia are also accused of conspiring to defraud the United States relating to the shipment of military antennas from a Massachusetts company to Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore has agreed to seek extradition for Wong and Nam on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States relating to the components shipped to Iran, and to seek extradition for Seng and Hia on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States relating to the military antenna exports.
In coordination with the criminal actions announced today, the Commerce Department announced the addition of 15 persons located in China, Hong Kong, Iran and Singapore to the Commerce Department's Entity List. In addition to the five individual defendants in this case, the Commerce Department named additional companies and individuals associated with this conspiracy. In placing these parties on the Entity List, the Commerce Department is imposing a licensing requirement for any item subject to Commerce regulation with a presumption that such a license would be denied.
Exports of U.S. Components Later Found in IEDs
According to the indictment, IEDs caused roughly 60 percent of all American combat casualties in Iraq between 2001 and 2007. The first conspiracy alleged in the indictment involved radio frequency modules that have several commercial applications, including in wireless local area networks connecting printers and computers in office settings. These modules include encryption capabilities and have a range allowing them to transmit data wirelessly as far as 40 miles when configured with a high-gain antenna. These same modules also have potentially lethal applications. Notably, during 2008 and 2009, coalition forces in Iraq recovered numerous modules made by the Minnesota firm that had been utilized as part of the remote detonation system for IEDs.
The indictment alleges that, between June 2007 and February 2008, the defendants fraudulently purchased and caused 6,000 modules to be illegally exported from the Minnesota company through Singapore, and later to Iran, in five shipments, knowing that the export of U.S.-origin goods to Iran was a violation of U.S. law. In each transaction, the defendants allegedly told the Minnesota firm that Singapore was the final destination of the goods. The defendants also caused false documents to be filed with the U.S. government, in which they claimed that a telecommunications project in Singapore was the final end-use for the modules. In reality, each of the five shipments was routed from Singapore to Iran via air cargo. The alleged recipient of all 6,000 modules in Iran was Larijani, who had directed Wong, his employee in Singapore, to order them.
According to the indictment, the defendants profited considerably from their illegal trade. The defendants allegedly made tens of thousands of dollars for arranging these illegal exports from the United States through Singapore to Iran.
The indictment alleges that several of the 6,000 modules the defendants routed from Minnesota to Iran were later discovered by coalition forces in Iraq, where they were being used as part of the remote detonation systems of IEDs. In May 2008, December 2008, April 2009, and July 2010, coalition forces found no less than 16 of these modules in unexploded IEDs recovered in Iraq, the indictment alleges.
During this period, some of the defendants were allegedly communicating with one another about U.S. laws prohibiting the export of U.S.-origin goods to Iran. For example, between October 2007 and June 2009, Nam contacted Larijani in Iran at least six times and discussed the Iran prohibitions and U.S. prosecutions for violation of these laws. Nam later told U.S. authorities that he had never participated in illicit exports to Iran, even though he had participated in five such shipments, according to the indictment.
Exports of Military Antennas
The indictment further charges Seng, Hia, and Corezing with a separate fraud conspiracy involving the illegal export of two types of military antenna from the United States. The indictment alleges that these defendants conspired to defraud the United States by causing a total of 55 cavity-backed spiral antennas and biconical antennas to be illegally exported from a Massachusetts company to Singapore and Hong Kong without the required State Department license.
These military antennas are controlled for export as U.S. munitions and are used in airborne and shipboard environments. The indictment states that the biconical antenna, for example, is used in military aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom, the F-15, the F-111, the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-16 combat jets.
Seng, Hia and Corezing are alleged to have, among other things, conspired to undervalue the antennas to circumvent U.S. regulations on the filing of shipper's export declarations to the U.S. government. They also allegedly used false names and front companies to obtain the antennas illegally from the United States.
Additional Misrepresentations
The indictment further alleges that Larijani, based in Iran, made false statements about doing business with an accused Iranian procurement agent and that he attempted to obstruct an official proceeding by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
In January 2010, the Department of Commerce placed Larijani's company, Opto Electronics, on the Entity List, which is a list of companies to which U.S. businesses cannot export controlled dual-use items without obtaining U.S. government licenses. In response, Larijani repeatedly contacted Commerce Department officials in Washington, D.C., from Iran, requesting that his company be removed from the Entity List, according to the indictment. Commerce officials advised Larijani that, in considering whether his firm should be removed from the list, he needed to disclose whether he or his firm had any involvement with Majid Kakavand or Evertop Services Sdn Bhd.
Kakavand is an accused Iranian procurement agent who has been indicted in the United States, along with his Malaysian company Evertop Services, for illegally exporting U.S. goods to Iran, including to military entities in Iran involved in that nation's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Kakavand remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Iran.
According to the indictment, Larijani denied to Commerce officials on three occasions that he or his company, Opto Electronics, had done any business with Kakavand or Evertop Services. In fact, the indictment alleges that Larijani had been in communication with others about his business dealings with Kakavand on at least five occasions from 2006 through 2009.
This investigation was jointly conducted by ICE HSI agents in Boston and Los Angeles; FBI agents in Minneapolis; and Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security agents in Chicago and Boston. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Office of International Affairs in the Justice Department's Criminal Division, particularly the Justice Department Attaché in the Philippines, as well as the FBI and ICE HSI Attachés in Singapore.
U.S. law enforcement authorities thanked the government of Singapore for the substantial assistance that was provided in the investigation of this matter.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Asuncion and John W. Borchert of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia; and Trial Attorneys Jonathan C. Poling and Richard S. Scott of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department's National Security Division.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains mere allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Eleven sailors were reported rescued from general cargo vessel Keum Yang 6 (IMO 9793349) on February 15th according to a report from the South Korean Coast Guard, after it had been caught in a strong storm south of the Korean peninsular.
The vessel had departed Gwangyang, South Korea with a cargo of steel plate bound for Zhoushan, China. The owner, Keum Yang Shipping, has a fleet of small cargo ships that operate in the region.
The ship encountered a strong storm with five-metre waves and winds reported at 35 to 40 mph. The vessel began taking on water and issued a distress call when it was about 40 miles southwest of Jeju Island.
The Coast Guard sent a helicopter and rescue ship. By the time they reached the cargo ship it had a 25-degree list to port with water washing over the deck, the Coast Guard said.
The 11 crew on board consisted of two Koreans, six from Myanmar, and three from Indonesia. All the crew were evacuated within four hours of the distress call being sent. It was reported that only one crew member suffered minor bruises, but the rest were in good health.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the incident.
2017-built, South Korea-flagged, 2,347 gt Keum Yang 6 is owned and managed by Keumyang Shipping Ltd of Busan, South Korea. It is entered with Korea P&I Club on behalf of Keumyang Shipping Co Ltd.
A crew of 11 seafarers were evacuated from a Korean general cargo vessel Keum Yang 6 taking on water in rough weather near Jeju Island.
The Korean Coast Guard received a distress call from the flooded 3,600 dwt ship on Thursday around 21.55 hrs local time.
A helicopter and a security vessel were dispatched and located the vessel some 61 km southwest of Seigwipo port, heavily listed and likely sinking.
The coast guard said it managed to rescue the crew by 01.30 hrs despite strong winds and waves as high as 5 m. No injuries have been reported.
The Busan-registered ship, owned by Keum Yang Shipping, was loaded with iron plates and on its way from Gwangyang in South Korea to China. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident.
South Korea’s Coast Guard is reporting the rescue of 11 sailors from a small cargo ship that was caught in a strong storm south of the Korean peninsular. According to the report, the crew was safely aboard a Coast Guard rescue vessel less than two hours after the distress call was received.
The vessel, the 3,500-dwt Keum Yang 6 departed Gwangyang, South Korea with a cargo of steel plate bound for Zhoushan, China. The vessel was built in 2017 and is owned by a South Korean shipping company, Keum Yang Shipping which has a fleet of small cargo ships operating in the region.
The ship reportedly encountered a strong storm with 16-foot seas. Winds were reported at 35 to 40 mph. The cargo ship, which was 262 feet (80 meters) in length began taking on water and issued a distress call while approximately 40 miles southwest of Jeju Island at around 22:00 local time on February 15.
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and rescue ship and reported by the time it reached the cargo ship it had a 25-degree list to port with water washing over the deck. There was a total of 11 crewmembers aboard, consisting of two Koreans, six from Myanmar, and three from Indonesia.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the Coast Guard reported that all the crewmembers were rescued by shortly before midnight local time.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the incident.
海保は船の撤去のケース(座礁したままのパナマ国籍の貨物船)を考慮して船長に船体保険や海難残骸物の除去に関するナイロビ国際条約に関する保険資料を持って退船するように指示はしているのだろうか?撤去に関して時間がかかると沖縄のパナマ船籍貨物船のようになる事を考えて対応するべきだと思う。
日本航空(JAL)機と海上保安庁の航空機が衝突事故とは全く関係ないが、過去の事から学び迅速に準備して対応する事が重要なのは理解していると思うので、保険会社と連絡して海が穏やかになれば行動に移せるようにするべきだと思う。
もし速やかな対応を取らなければロシアで座礁したシエラレオネ船籍「XING YUAN」のように長期間、放置されるよ!2021年に座礁し2024年に撤去される予定。約3年間は放置状態になったと言う事になる。下記の記事の読む(日本語訳)かぎり、中国の船主が撤去したとは思えない。この船の座礁後、ロシアのPSC(Port State Control)はサブスタンダード船と思われる船を検査し、出港停止にする傾向が増えたと思える。日本のPSC(Port State Control)は能力と経験の問題で同じようには出来ないと思う。
Did the Korean tanker New Bright catch fire in the Red Sea after being attacked near Yemen in January 2024? No, that's not true: The ship caught fire as it sailed downstream in the Yangtze River, near Shanghai in East China en route to Incheon, South Korea, on December 21, 2023. The cause of the blaze was not disclosed.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on January 21, 2024. A text overlay in English read:
Yeman🇾🇪🇾🇪 made red Sea hell for Israel🇮🇱🇮🇱 you will also make hell for them by sharing this video.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
The 11-second video depicts a tanker in distress in the water, tilting on one side, but still afloat, with what appears to be charred cargo onboard and a nearby fire boat spraying it with water. Another video in Arabic (archived here), posted on TikTok on January 12, 2024, showed similar footage of the tanker, claiming that the attack prompted joint U.S.-U.K. airstrikes on specific targets in Yemen that belong to the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels, on January 11, 2024. A headline (translated from Arabic to English by Lead Stories staff) claimed:
The reason for the strikes on Yemen yesterday🇺🇸
A Google Lens reverse image search (archived here) yielded several identical videos in different languages, including French and Turkish, on various social media platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X. Posted in December 2023 and January 2024, they showed the name of the vessel as New Bright.
A Google News search for "New Bright vessel hit near Yemen" on January 24, 2024, (archived here) led to an article on Dfrac (archived here), a digital forensics, research and analytics center also known as Dfrac.org, which showed identical images of the vessel, identifying it as Korean. The India-based website said that the tanker caught fire while sailing in East China, not in the Red Sea, and the fire had nothing to do with an attack from Yemen.
A reverse image search (archived here) on Google led to a December 21, 2023, article by FleetMon (archived here), a ship-tracking website that reports on marine traffic and research. It said a fire erupted on the tanker New Bright as it sailed "downstream in Yangtze River, near Sutong Bridge, Shanghai" en route from Changzhou to Incheon, South Korea, on December 21, 2023. "It was a major fire, all 22 crew were evacuated, (the) tanker developed (a) heavy starboard list and stern tilt, but remained afloat", it added. The images in the article, which showed the tanker New Bright, matched that of the ship in the TikTok video. Neither Dfrac nor FleetMon said what caused the blaze.
Since late November, the Houthis have conducted numerous attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. They claim their actions are intended to halt the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Surrounding the incident, a video went viral in which a tanker ship can be seen caught in the fire. While sharing the video, the users are claiming that “Yemen Made Red Sea hell for Israel and its friends …”
Fact Check:
We investigated the viral video by reverse-searching the keyframes from the video. During the process, we found an article by Fleet Mon, a website that reports on maritime news. We found an article titled, “ Korean tanker major fire, crew evacuated, Shanghai”
The article mentioned that Tanker NEW BRIGHT caught fire on the Yangtze River, Shanghai, on Dec 21, 2023, in the afternoon while en route from Changzhou to Incheon, South Korea.
Furthermore, the images in the article which showed the Tanker NEW BRIGHT were found to match the ship, shown in the video.
Conclusion
Thus from the fact check, it is evident, that the viral video is not associated with Yemen. It is a Korean ship passing the Yangtze River in Shanghai.
Genius Star XI is positioned by a mooring buoy in Broad Bay, Alaska, as salvors access fire damage (source: USCG)
by Martyn Wingrove
Storms and onboard fires damaged ships and mobilised rescue teams during the final weeks of 2023
Salvors and crew extinguished a battery-fuelled fire on board a Handysize cargo ship off Alaska, confirmed its seafarers were safe and the vessel remained stable. Fire erupted in two cargo holds on Genius Star XI in the north Pacific as it carried more than 800 tonnes of batteries on a voyage from Vietnam to California, US.
US Coast Guard (USCG) advised the master to anchor off Dutch Harbor, Alaska, enabling salvors and fire-fighters to extinguish the fire, which was achieved by 31 December 2023. In an update on 2 January 2024, USCG said a team of marine fire-fighting experts from T&T Salvage and Resolve Marine had boarded and inspected this 2012-built, 9,984-gt ship as it was moored 3 km offshore, ensuring the 19 crewmembers were safe.
Genius Star XI remains on a prepositioned mooring buoy in Broad Bay for weather avoidance based on a recommendation from an Alaska marine pilot and the salvage master aboard the Panama-flagged vessel. To comply with the ongoing Captain of the Port order, the vessel will keep its pilothouse manned, engines warm, and have a tug standing by to respond if the situation changes.
Fire started in a cargo hold while Genius Star XI was 200 nautical miles off Alaska and the ship’s CO2 suppression system extinguished it. When a second fire started in another cargo hold, the crew had already used all the ship’s CO2 supply and applied boundary cooling with firehoses to contain the flames.
USCG received the first report of the fire 28 December and sent an HC-130 aircraft and cutter Alex Haley to the burning ship to assess the situation.
Genius Star XI diverted to Dutch Harbor for assistance. Salvors and fire-fighters boarded and extinguished the cargo fire. They determined the atmosphere inside the affected cargo hold remained non-flammable and there was no immediate risk of fire. The team used a remote sensing tool to gather readings and the cargo holds remain sealed.
“The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Gallagher Marine Systems, T&T Salvage and the State of Alaska are working in a Unified Command to respond safely and swiftly,” said 17th Coast Guard District commander Megan Dean.
The cause of the cargo fires remains unknown and USCG plans to begin an investigation into the cause of the incident after response efforts are completed.
A 410-foot vessel carrying a cargo that included lithium-ion batteries was today safely moored in Broad Harbor, Alaska, after a response that began when it reported a cargo hold fire at 4.40 a.m., Thursday, December 28, as it was approximately 225 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
The vessel, the 13,633 dwt , 2012-built Panamanian flag general cargo ship Genius Star XI, is operated by Wisdom Marine Lines SA of Taiwan,
On being alerted of the cargo hold fire, which was contained but then ongoing, the 17th Coast Guard District Command Center in Juneau directed Genius Star XI to continue toward Dutch Harbor while an HC-130 airplane from Air Station Kodiak and the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC-39) were dispatched to assist.
“We applaud the crewmembers aboard Genius Star XI, whose swift actions kept the fire contained to this point,” said Captain Chris Culpepper, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, as the response got underway, “This will be an ongoing team effort as we work to safely extinguish the fire, provide any necessary medical care for the crew, and mitigate the dangers associated with a shipboard fire.”
The Coast Guard confirmed there were no injuries to the 19 crewmembers aboard Genius Star XI.
A team of marine firefighting experts from T&T Salvage and Resolve Marine had embarked the ship by Friday, December 29, to begin an on-site assessment of the vessel’s condition. It found no signs of structural deformation or blistering outside of the compartment.
Coast Guard Sector Anchorage issued a Captain of the Port Order to Genius Star XI to remain two miles offshore. Also, the Captain of the Port established a one-mile safety zone around the vessel for the duration of the response effort.
“A top priority is the safety of the crewmembers and responders aboard Genius Star XI, the safety of the community in Unalaska, and mitigating any potential environmental impact,” said Rear Admiral Megan Dean, Commander of the 17th Coast Guard District. “The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Gallagher Marine Systems, T&T Salvage, and the State of Alaska are working in a Unified Command to respond safely and swiftly. The Unified Command is also working closely with Unalaska city officials to address local concerns and keep the community informed of response efforts.”
By Saturday, the T&T Salvage marine firefighting team remained aboard the Genius Star XI and reported regular temperature readings in the cargo hold. The team completed a preliminary assessment of the vessel’s condition. Based on temperature readings and other indicators, the Unified Command believed the condition of the vessel, stable with no indication of heat in the cargo holds.
“Informed by the findings of the Salvage and Marine Firefighting team, the Unified Command will direct the Genius Star XI to anchor in a place of refuge in Broad Bay, near Dutch Harbor, Alaska,” said Captain Chris Culpepper, Captain of the Port. “This protected anchorage has been pre-identified in the Area Contingency Plan and will allow the vessel to remain stable, minimizing risk of any re-flash of the fire as we continue our response.”
The Coast Guard issued a new Captain of the Port Order directing the vessel to remain at the specified anchorage away from marine traffic and await additional technical experts who could certify the cargo hold is safe to enter. The one-mile safety zone in effect around the vessel will remain in effect to protect waterway users and the local community.
As a precaution, the Unified Command also directed an Emergency Towing System be pre-staged aboard the ship and affixed for rapid use should Genius Star XI lose propulsion and need to be towed offshore.
Today, the vessel was in Broad Bay after being moored on a prepositioned mooring buoy utilizing the Emergency Towing System. Assessment teams on site reported that air quality remains normal and there is no indication of heat in or around the cargo holds. The vessel will keep its engines in warm status and has a tug standing by in the event weather requires additional relocation.
A one-mile safety zone around the vessel remains in place. Mariners who wish to enter that zone should request permission on VHF Channel 16.
An investigation into the cause of the cargo hold fire will take place once response efforts are complete.
Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) Ten seamen have been detained on suspicion of smuggling 1.3-metric tons of marijuana earlier this month, the largest drug haul of its kind in Taiwan, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office said in a statement issued Friday.
The marijuana seized had a street value of NT$3.5 billion (US$114.2 million), prosecutors said, adding that the illegal operation was interdicted from Dec. 9-12 in the northwest waters off Kaohsiung, where five unmanned rafts being used to shuttle drugs from a Mongolian oil tanker were seized.
According to prosecutors, they worked with the Coast Guard Administration and multiple police departments across Taiwan to intercept the first unmanned raft, registered in Tainan, on Dec. 10, which was carrying four bags of marijuana that totaled 221.7 kilograms.
The next day, the taskforce again seized four similar rafts drifting in the same area, carrying 1,159.3 kg of marijuana in 20 bags with the same packaging as the previous haul.
The evidences enabled the squad to track down the tanker, which is believed to have transported the marijuana, near Kaohsiung's Xingda Port, prosecutors said.
At the request of prosecutors, the Taiwan Ciaotou District Court ordered the detention of all 10 suspects -- the tanker's Taiwanese owner, surnamed Huang (黃), two Taiwanese seamen and seven Burmese fishermen -- for allegedly violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
According to prosecutors, the marijuana seized in the operation-- which is listed as a Category 2 drug in Taiwan -- could be turned into 2.8 million cigarettes.
Indonesian salvage teams have managed to free suezmax Liberty (IMO 9207027), which grounded in the Singapore Strait west of Batam. The 23-year-old, Cameroon-flagged “shadow fleet” tankship ran aground last Sunday December 3rd. It took until Wednesday to get the suezmax free. According to TankerTrackers.com the ship is carrying nearly 1m barrels of Venezuelan fuel oil.
Five tugboats were needed to move the ship from its grounded position. It appears still to be in the area, motionless, indicating presumably that it is being checked for any hull damage.
The increasing number of elderly tankers continuing to ply their trade, while not being insured by the major marine liability or hull markets, is causing a significant degree of concern with the littoral states of seaways carrying a large number of tankers.
Before 2019, tankers over 20 years of age that were still operating made up just 1% of the global tanker fleet. This rose to 3% by early 2022, but since the beginning of the Russian war with Ukraine in February 2022, the percentage is on track to constitute 11% of the global fleet by 2025, according to data from brokers Braemar.
An Indonesian Navy spokesman said that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident was underway. TankerTrackers data, confirmed by Kpler, showed that the ship was carrying a cargo of oil from Venezuela. Both firms said that as recently as October the Liberty was pretending to be off the coast of West Africa when in fact it was collecting oil from Venezuela. “Spoofing” a false AIS is also a matter of concern for the international shipping community and states with a vulnerability to environmental disasters.
Singapore is next to a transfer hub near Malaysia. Its role as a key transit point before heading to buyers in east Asia makes it particularly exposed to the risks from shadow fleet ships. However, other areas, such as those where ship-to-ship transfers occur, are also seen as a serious danger to the environmental health of the oceans.
The International Maritime Organization only last week branded the situation a matter of “grave concern”.
The Cameroon flag is the only one designated as “very high risk” on a black list published by the Paris Memorandum on Port State Control, which oversees ship inspections and promotes safety. A firm called Skyward Management Corp., with an address in Kazakhstan, is listed as its technical manager.
When the vessel was inspected in Singapore in 2017 and 2019 it was deemed high risk and had a handful of deficiencies. It was then sold to new owners. Subsequent inspections in Malaysia and Indonesia did not identify any issues.
The tanker receives classification services from a firm called Mediterranean Shipping Register.
2000-built, Cameroon-flagged, 83,724 gt Liberty is listed by Equasis as owned by Vythos ventures Co of Majuro, Marshall Islands. ISM manager is Skyward Shipmanagement Corp of Almaty, Kazakhstan. As of December 9th it was listed as stopped near its grounding location, having left Primorsk, Russia, on July 1st.
Indonesian salvage teams have managed to free a shadow tanker that grounded in the Singapore Strait west of Batam.
The 23-year-old, Cameroon-flagged Liberty ran aground on Saturday and it took through until Wednesday to get the suezmax free. According to TankerTrackers.com the ship is carrying nearly 1m barrels of Venezuelan fuel oil.
A total of five tugboats were used to move the ship from its grounded position. Vessel tracking data shows the ship is not moving at the moment, suggesting it is being assessed for repairs.
Southeast Asia – a major crossroads for international tanker trades – has seen its fair share of dark fleet mishaps recently.
The 26-year-old Turba aframax, also flagged in Cameroon, lost power and was adrift off Indonesia for a number of days in October.
There was also the explosion of the Pablo aframax in May in Malaysian waters and the grounding of the VLCC Young Yang last year.
There were at least eight groundings, collisions or near misses involving tankers carrying sanctioned oil products in 2022 – the same number as in the previous three years, according to insurance firm Allianz.
Tankers still working above 20 years of age made up just 1% of the global tanker fleet pre-covid and were still a rarity at 3% before the invasion of Ukraine in late February last year. They’re now on track to make up 11% of all tanker demand by mid-2025, according to data from brokers Braemar.
Analysts at Vortexa issued a new report this week showing that tankers operating in opaque markets reached a record high in Q2 and have since declined.
An unidentified and unmanned Chinese cargo ship sank off the coast of Gageo Island, Yellow sea, southwest South Korea, in the morning Nov 29. No people were found, the ship is apparently, Chinese with visible Chinese flag, but no crew found. She drifted to island being already half-submerged, Korean authorities launched an investigation, whether it was maritime accident or an attempt to illegally enter Korea. The name looks like XIANG SHUN 899, but no data found on such name. Korean sources say, citing Coast Guard, that the tonnage of the ship is roughly 200 tons, but she looks bigger, some 500 GT, probably.
CESI Qingdao was banned by Australia after a mechanical breakdown and for "contravention of AMSA Detention Notice" (AMSA)
The Australian Maritime Safety Agency imposed a stiff penalty on an LNG carrier after an incident that saw the vessel blocking one of the country’s largest LNG export terminals and disrupting the operations of ConocoPhillips Australia, Origin Energy, and the Australia Pacific's terminal. It was the ninth ban imposed on a vessel by the safety agency in 2023 as part of their strict enforcement of regulations to ensure the integrity of operations and the safety of crews.
The ban which runs for 180 days till late June 2024, was issued following an incident that began on November 21 when the Chinese-owned LNG tanker CESI Qingdao (95,600 dwt), a regular caller at the terminal as part of a dedicated export operation, experienced a power failure. By the end of November with the vessel stuck at the terminal for nearly a week, upstream producer Origin reported it had been forced to tune down production as several shipments were missed due to the stranded vessel blocking the terminal.
AMSA during the incident reportedly called the vessel “unseaworthy” while discussing the situation with the Australian media. The safety agency reports it worked with the master and operator while extensive repairs to the ship were carried out. Four generators required repairs, but according to AMSA only one of which was repaired after being completely rebuilt under the supervision of the engine manufacturers.
Australian regulators finally agreed that the laden vessel could be towed off the terminal and placed in an anchorage while repairs were being completed. Three shipments had been delayed while the terminal was blocked. The LNG carrier which operates under charter to Chinese energy company Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Company) remained for three more weeks in the anchorage before finally being towed back to China for repairs, where it is due to arrive on January 12.
“The response of the master and ship managers throughout the repair process necessitated stronger compliance action from AMSA,” they said announcing the six-month ban. The order cites a “contravention of AMSA Detention Notice,” as being the reason for the long ban.
Most of the bans issued are due to poor maintenance issues that AMSA’s inspectors find during port state inspections or when reported by crewmembers. They have also acted when ship managers are found to be violating labor contracts or have a history of poor crew welfare and failing to pay crew wages. However, in one case in 2023 they banned a ship saying inspectors found “incorrect stowage of explosive substances.”
In addition to the bans on individual ships, several ship managers have had their fleets placed on notice for frequent inspections due to a history of poor performance according to AMSA. The safety agency has emphasized that it has a low tolerance for these issues in its efforts to protect crews and the Australian environment.
A Korean tanker exploded while sailing on the Yangtze River in China's Jiangsu province on December 21. The vessel was traveling from Changzhou to Incheon in South Korea when its cargo hold suddenly exploded and became engulfed in flames near the Sutong Bridge. Fortunately, all 22 crew members were evacuated and there were no reports of injuries.
The LNG carrier CESI Qingdao, which is owned by Cosco’s China Shipping LNG, Sinopec, and Mitsui OSK Lines, experienced a propulsion failure at the Curtis Island terminal, disrupting exports for Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG).
The ban which runs for 180 days till late June 2024, was issued following an incident that began on November 21 when the Chinese-owned LNG tanker CESI Qingdao (95,600 dwt), a regular caller at the terminal as part of a dedicated export operation, experienced a power failure. By the end of November with the vessel stuck at the terminal for nearly a week, upstream producer Origin reported it had been forced to tune down production as several shipments were missed due to the stranded vessel blocking the terminal.
The facility’s yearly capacity of 9 million tonnes has been impacted by the suspension of shipments due to the 174,300-dwt vessel, which has been loaded and immobile for the last six days.
Two cargoes have been delayed due to the breakdown, and more are anticipated because the stranded ship prevents other ships from docking at the eastern Australian terminal.
The $189 million CESI Qingdao was scheduled to leave for Wenzhou, China. The ship’s manager, China Energy Ship Management, stated that repairs are still being made, and the underlying cause is unknown.
The fact that the APLNG facility can only hold one ship at a time, which interferes with the loading process, raises concerns about a possible increase in LNG prices globally.
Two cargoes have already been delayed due to the disruption, and more shipments will probably be affected as well, according to statements from Sinopec and Origin Energy Ltd., co-owners of APLNG. The impacted LNG prices in North Asia are approximately $16 per million British thermal units.
The circumstance makes it necessary to think about supply management through APLNG to address the problem. Origin, which owns a 27.5% share in APLNG, plans to increase its domestic gas sales.
The company board is considering an updated takeover offer from a consortium headed by Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., which calls for EIG Global Energy Partners to buy Origin’s share of APLNG.
[28日 ロイター] - オーストラリア東岸カーティス島の液化天然ガス(LNG)輸出施設で、停泊中のタンカーに障害が発生して航行できなくなり輸送が停止している。オーストラリア・パシフィックLNG(APLNG)の運営会社、米コノコフィリップス(COP.N), opens new tabと共同所有者の豪オリジン・エナジー(ORG.AX), opens new tabが28日に明らかにした。
APLNGの大口顧客は中国石油化工(シノペック)(600028.SS), opens new tabと関西電力(9503.T), opens new tab。
船舶追跡データによると、航行不能になったタンカーは中国に向かう予定だった「Cesi Qingdao」。この船の管理会社は、22日に推進力に不具合が生じたと説明した。
すでに2カーゴ分の出荷に遅れが生じている。オリジンは影響がどの程度に及ぶかは、問題のタンカーがいつ航行可能になるか次第になると説明した。
The grounded Viet Hai Star in the waters near Balabac. (PCG photo)
By Gerald Ticke
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed oil spill booms around the Vietnamese-flagged cargo vessel that ran aground off Balabac town last Tuesday night, CG Ensign Chrieson Dave Gabayan, assistant information officer of Coast Guard District Palawan (CGD Pal) said.
At around 7 a.m. today, a response team was dispatched by CGD Pal to inspect MV Viet Hai Star and found out that it was already fully flooded due to high tide and rough seas overnight and now settled on a muddy and rocky area of Calandorang Bay.
Gabayan said oil sheen was observed around the area where the Vietnamese vessel is currently half-submerged, some 810 yards from Balabac port in Barangay 4.
The PCG has dispatched BRP Sindangan (MRRV 4407) to the area to contain the oil sheen. The vessel was carrying 29,000 liters of automotive diesel oil (ADO) aside from the 80,000 sacks (4,000 tons) of rice.
“We started deploying oil spill boom around the vessel and we have also sprayed dispersant in the shores,” Gabayan said.
He also said no other plans have been laid down regarding the vessel.
“As of the moment, our top-priority is to contain the oil sheen because the vessel is only more or less one kilometer from the residential area before we proceed to other plans,” he said.
Furthermore, Gabayan said they have already coordinated with the owner of the vessel and that the crew are in good condition. They are still in Balabac waiting to be transported to Puerto Princesa City.
MV Viet Hai Star was on its way to Cagayan de Oro from Ho Chi Min, Vietnam when it met rough weather condition which led it to run aground after its starboard side bow was punctured last Tuesday.
At present, CGD Pal Special Operations Group divers are conducting an underwater inspection to assess the vessel’s status and for further measures.
[28日 ロイター] - オーストラリア東岸カーティス島の液化天然ガス(LNG)輸出施設で、停泊中のタンカーに障害が発生して航行できなくなり輸送が停止している。オーストラリア・パシフィックLNG(APLNG)の運営会社、米コノコフィリップス(COP.N), opens new tabと共同所有者の豪オリジン・エナジー(ORG.AX), opens new tabが28日に明らかにした。
APLNGの大口顧客は中国石油化工(シノペック)(600028.SS), opens new tabと関西電力(9503.T), opens new tab。
船舶追跡データによると、航行不能になったタンカーは中国に向かう予定だった「Cesi Qingdao」。この船の管理会社は、22日に推進力に不具合が生じたと説明した。
すでに2カーゴ分の出荷に遅れが生じている。オリジンは影響がどの程度に及ぶかは、問題のタンカーがいつ航行可能になるか次第になると説明した。
The Sierra Leone-flagged vessel grounds on the coast of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam. Photo: T.Q.T. / Tuoi Tre
The Border Guard Command in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam on Friday found an unmanned Sierra Leone-flagged vessel with a tonnage of nearly 14,000 metric tons and a length of 132 meters grounding on the coast of the province.
The vessel was identified as King Rich, a cargo ship registered by a man named Chiu.
It suffered an engine failure in the waters of the Philippines on November 18 and drifted offshore before running aground in Vietnam, the Quang Nam Border Guard Command reported on Saturday.
Nearby vessels saved all crew members aboard King Rich. It carried no cargo at the time of the incident.
Its owner had sought to pull the ship ashore in vain as the position of the vessel was unknown at the time. He has assigned an insurance company to take responsibility for handling it.
Border guards in Quang Nam Province access the vessel. Photo: T.Q.T. / Tuoi Tre
Informed of the vessel running aground, the Quang Nam administration required relevant units to access and handle it to prevent an oil spill.
The Border Guard Command in Quang Nam Province is implementing surveillance and protection measures to prevent local residents from accessing the ship.
Sierra Leonean vessel King Rich is stranded in the southern parts of Cu Lao Cham Island in Quang Nam's Hoi An City, December 1, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Hong
An unmanned Sierra Leonean vessel carrying liquid, weighing almost 14,000 tons, was found stranded at Cu Lao Cham Island off central Quang Nam Province on Friday.
The Cu Lao Cham border guard station in Hoi An City said the vessel is named King Rich, spanning 132 m in length and 21 m in width. It was designed to carry liquid, and there was no one onboard at the time it was found.
When it got swept to shore, impacts with rocks damaged it and may have caused it to sink. As there are rough seas at Cu Lao Cham, authorities could not gain access to the vessel to determine what it was carrying exactly, as well as how much fuel it had left.
Border guards have informed the Quang Nam Maritime Administration about the matter and there could be measures against the possibility of the ship sinking and its fuel leaking out.
For now, border guards and local militia members of Tan Hiep Commune are watching over the ship.
The Philippines Coast Guard is honoring the crew of a Chinese containership for its brave actions in saving the crew from a chemical tanker that was in distress. The sixteen crewmembers were rescued from two rafts in rough seas after they abandoned their ship.
The MT King Rich registered in Sierra Leone reported the product tanker was taking on water on Saturday, November 18, in the northernmost waters of the Philippines approximately 80 nautical miles from the small Badoc Island. Built in 1990, the 13,925 dwt tanker was traveling empty when it encountered the rough seas.
The captain later told the rescuers that the propeller shaft broke around 13:00 on Saturday, causing the tanker to begin taking on water. The crew initially attempted to control the flooding but soon determined that they could not pump the water out. Fearing the vessel would be overwhelmed, prepared to abandon ship. The Philippine Coast Guard reports the crew secured the fuel tanks and the engine before entering two rafts.
The 13 Indonesians and three Chinese crewmembers were rescued about four hours later when the Hong Kong-registered containership Sheng An came upon the two rafts. The 24,500 dwt feeder containership was sailing from China to the Philippines and was able to position itself to intercept the rafts. Video shot from the deck shows the rough seas bouncing around the two rafts.
The crewmembers were brought safely aboard the containership which proceeded to Subic Bay in the Philippines where it arrived on Sunday morning. The Coast Guard reports the rescued crew is all in good physical condition thanks to the efforts of the containership.
The Coast Guard Aviation Force overflew the area today and reported the product tanker is still afloat and drifting. The Coast Guard says it is working with the vessel’s owner to secure a tow before the vessel is lost.
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Sixteen foreign crew members of a chemical tanker that was flying the Sierra Leone flag arrived here on Sunday, November 19, after they were rescued Saturday, November 18, when their vessel was in distress 81 nautical miles west-northwest of Badoc Island in Ilocos Norte.
According to Van Swandi, the captain of MT King Rich, the propeller shaft of their vessel broke and the water started to enter the engine room.
This image from video provided by Bolaji John shows the burning Trinity Spirit anchored 15 miles off the coast of Nigeria, which caught fire on Feb. 2, 2022. The ship had no insurance, no flag, and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Five workers were killed and two others left unaccounted for in the blast. (Bolaji John via AP)
BY HELEN WIEFFERING AND GRACE EKPU
Updated 1:01 PM JST, October 30, 2023
OKITIPUPA, Nigeria (AP) — It was the dead of night when the ship caught fire, Patrick Aganyebi remembers, but the flames made it seem as bright as day.
The explosion that night woke him and knocked him to the floor. He tucked his phone and his ID card in his pockets, strapped on a life jacket and made his way to the upper deck. As the flames barreled toward him, he prepared to jump nearly 100 feet (30 meters) into the sea.
Five workers were killed and two others presumed dead in the blast on the Trinity Spirit, a rusting converted oil tanker anchored 15 miles (24 km) off the coast of Nigeria that pulled crude oil from the ocean floor. It was by the grace of God, Aganyebi said, that he and two fellow crewmen escaped, rescued by a pair of fishermen as the burning vessel sank along with 40,000 barrels of oil.
The Trinity Spirit’s explosion in February of last year stands among the deadliest tragedies on an oil ship or platform in recent years. The Associated Press’ review of court documents, ship databases, and interviews with crew members reveals that the 46-year-old ship was in a state of near-total disrepair, and the systems meant to ensure its safe and lawful operation — annual inspections, a flag registry, insurance — had gradually fallen away.
The Trinity Spirit fits a pattern of old tankers put to work storing and extracting oil even while on the brink of mechanical breakdowns. At least eight have been shut down after a fire, a major safety hazard, or the death of a worker in the last decade, according to an AP review. More than 30 are older than the Trinity Spirit and still storing oil around the world.
Jan-Erik Vinnem, who has spent his career studying the risks of offshore oil production, said he’s sometimes shocked when he sees pictures of oil ships in Africa.
AGING HULLS
The Trinity Spirit was part of a class of vessels that extracts oil offshore and stores it at sea. They are known as floating production storage and offloading units — FPSOs — or as FSOs, floating storage and offloading units, when used only for storage. Since the 1970s, they’ve become increasingly popular for developing oil in deep waters and in places where no pipelines exist. According to the environmental group SkyTruth, there are some 240 in operation today.
FPSOs are unlike most ships for one key reason: They stay in place. Once attached to the ocean floor, they can linger at the same oil field for years or even decades. They may be surveyed by in-country regulators or hired inspectors, but they operate outside the normal flow of shipping traffic and the added safety and legal inspections that take place in port.
“If a vessel is sitting in a country’s domestic waters and is not going around trading … then you’re not going to have that same level of oversight,” said Meghan Mathieson, strategy director at the Canadian-based Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping.
More than half the current fleet of FPSOs are recycled oil tankers, according to Oslo-based Rystad Energy, which keeps data on the ships. Senior analyst Edvard Christoffersen said that without a major repair, most oil ships have hulls built to last about 25 years. But some FPSOs are used far longer, sometimes to dangerous effect.
In the same month that the Trinity Spirit caught fire, inspectors found problems with an aging FPSO moored off the coast of Malaysia. The Bunga Kertas was built as an oil tanker in the 1980s, and press coverage of its conversion to an FPSO in 2004 said the vessel had an intended service life of 10 more years.
But it was 18 years later when a safety issue on the Bunga Kertas led to a pause in operations. The ship’s hull had “ integrity issues,” according to stakeholder Jadestone Energy. Four months later a diver was killed while repairing the damage. Petronas, the operator at the time, did not respond to a request for comment.
This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Until this fall, another aging ship floating off the coast of Yemen seemed dangerously close to spilling a massive amount of oil. The FSO Safer was built in the same year as the Trinity Spirit, and became a floating hazard over years of neglect amid the country’s civil war. Seawater had leaked into the ship’s engine room by 2020.
“It could break up at any time – or explode,” the United Nations said in a statement this spring.
The ship held more than a million barrels of oil — risking a spill that could have decimated fisheries in the Red Sea, threatened desalination plants and washed oil on the shores of countries around the Horn of Africa, according to the U.N. After years of alarm and negotiations, the oil was transferred onto another tanker this August, but the rusting Safer remains off Yemen’s coast, awaiting funds to be scrapped.
Age isn’t the only measure of a ship’s health: Climate, storms and wave patterns can add stress to ship components or increase the pace of corrosion, just as careful maintenance can extend a ship’s life.
But the fleet’s growing age is well known in the industry. The average hull age of FPSOs has increased from 22 to nearly 28 years since 2010, according to Rystad Energy. The American Bureau of Shipping — one of several companies known as classification societies that certify vessels’ safety — launched a working group in 2021 to address the challenges of older FPSOs, noting that 55 ships were approaching the end of their intended lives.
“A lot of these things are foreseeable,” said Ian Ralby, a maritime security expert who helped sound the alarm about the Safer.
“If they are not well maintained and not watched carefully,” Ralby said, “they can sink, they can spill, and they can, as the Trinity Spirit showed, blow up.”
DANGEROUS TO ABANDON
There has been little to no public explanation of what led to the Trinity Spirit’s explosion, though multiple Nigerian agencies had responsibility for overseeing the ship. The Trinity Spirit had been on the same oil field for more than two decades. According to Aganyebi, after the ship arrived in Nigeria, it was never brought to shore for major upgrades or repairs.
Warning signs began years before it caught fire. In 2015, the American Bureau of Shipping canceled its classification and ceased inspections of the ship. There’s no record the Trinity Spirit had insurance after that point, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. In the next several years, the ship lost its privilege to fly the flag of Liberia, becoming a stateless vessel.
By 2019, Nigeria’s petroleum regulator had revoked the Trinity Spirit’s license to pump oil. Nigeria’s head of maritime safety, quoted in local press coverage, said his agency had directed the ship to stop operating five years before the blast. Yet the Trinity Spirit was never forced to leave.
Up till the moment of the explosion, there was oil on board. As recently as 2021, according to satellite imagery and ship transponder data, oil was loaded onto a tanker that later docked at a Shell refinery in the Netherlands.
Adeyemi Adeyiga, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which regulates the country’s oil resources, said the sale was legal because the oil was produced before the license was revoked. And a spokesperson for Shell said the company conducts robust reviews of its supply chain and complies with all laws and regulations.
Though the federal government investigated the Trinity Spirit’s explosion, more than a year later no findings have been released. For months, it seemed the only scrutiny would fall on the surviving men.
Not long after their escape, and still in the throes of recovery, Aganyebi and a fellow crewman were arrested on accusations of “Murder, Arson, and Malicious Damage,” according to their charging documents. Police were acting on a complaint from Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited — the Trinity Spirit’s longtime operator.
An attorney in Lagos took on the case pro bono.
“They committed no offense, they did nothing wrong. They were staffers of the company,” Benson Enikuomehin said. In an interview, he accused Shebah of drumming up criminal charges to distract from the company’s missteps. Anything that took place on the Trinity Spirit should be considered illegal after the license to the oil field was revoked, he said.
Yinka Agidee, an attorney specializing in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector who was not involved in the case, said the Trinity Spirit represented an “accident waiting to happen,” and showed that local authorities failed to enforce their own orders.
“I’m not sure if it’s a question of people closing their eyes or deliberately not doing what they’re supposed to have done,” she said. “But that has resulted in an accident and there has been a loss of life. So we need some explanation.”
Interviews and an exploration of documents provide a lack of clarity about who was responsible for the Trinity Spirit in the final years of its decline. Though Shebah hired Aganyebi and the rest of the Trinity Spirit’s crew, CEO Ikemefuna Okafor said in an email to the AP that the company wasn’t responsible for the ship’s neglect. The company reported the surviving crew to police, he said, because it had evidence of illegal storage of oil on the ship.
According to Okafor, liquidators seized ownership of the Trinity Spirit in 2018 due to Shebah’s outsized debt. Yet in a deposition given one year before the explosion, the company’s former president, Ambrosie Orjiako, described how Shebah continued to run operations.
Sustaining fuel purchases, food supplies, and “skeletal manpower” wasn’t easy, Orijako said, because “there’s no revenue coming in.” But he managed to fund the minimal operations with family resources, he said, because the FPSO “would be dangerous to abandon.”
Adeyiga, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, said it was still finalizing its investigation into the ship’s explosion and would continue working to prevent similar tragedies from happening.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but issued notice in December that all FPSOs and FSOs in Nigeria’s waters must have a flag, be certified by a classification society, and maintain official plans for ship maintenance and emergency response.
This combination of photos provided by Pius Orofin, a deck operator aboard the Trinity Spirit oil ship, shows rusted areas of the ship moored 15 miles off the coast of Nigeria, in November 2021. (Pius Orofin via AP)
SAVE OUR SOULS
The deck of the Trinity Spirit was an expanse of rust. Orange rust coated the floor, crept over pipes and trailed from crevices in the walls, according to cell phone photos taken four months before the explosion. Equipment failures plagued the ship’s interior: The engine room flooded twice, Aganyebi said, and the main generator plant was damaged and never repaired.
Shebah had started running operations on the ship in 2004, taking over from Houston-based ConocoPhillips. But the site’s wells had passed peak oil production several years earlier, according to the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. Within a few years Shebah’s venture showed signs of financial stress.
Oil and gas operators tend to operate on the edge of financial wealth or financial ruin, said David Hammond, founder of the nonprofit Human Rights at Sea.
“These things go from boom to bust,” he said. “The workers are the last people to be looked after.”
Aganyebi worked in the engine room of the Trinity Spirit. Within a year of joining the crew in 2014, he said, Shebah stopped reliably paying his wages. Lawrence Yorgolo, who operated the crane on the ship, and Pius Orofin, a deck operator — the only other survivors of last year’s fire — alleged the same in interviews with the AP. The men said they stayed on board the ship because they had few other options and hoped they would someday be paid.
The staff sent repeated letters asking for the money they were owed, the men told AP. One of their last attempts was dated July 2019, with a subject line of “SAVE OUR SOUL (SOS).” They wrote they had worked 15 months without salary and endured, with “pains and hardship,” the “harsh condition and occupational hazards” of life on board the Trinity Spirit.
Shebah by that time owed millions of dollars. A trio of banks had sued the company over its alleged failure to make payments on a $150 million loan, and in 2016 a judge ruled that Shebah must repay nearly the full amount. A government-run entity, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, moved to take over the company and the assets of its president. The ship’s staffing dwindled from nearly 40 people to 10.
For those who remained, there were times on the ship when there was nothing to eat, the survivors told AP. Yorgolo recalled how the crew went hungry one year on Christmas. On a separate occasion — the worst of them, he said — the engine room flooded and the staff worked for three days without food. The radio operator sent a message pleading with oil operators nearby to come to their aid.
“Our management was furious,” Yorgolo said.
When the radio operator next went to shore, according to Aganyebi, Yorgolo and Orofin, Shebah didn’t allow him back on the ship. He was the designated person to fire a flare or call for help in an emergency. Had the radio operator been on board the night of the explosion, Aganyebi said, “maybe those people that have died — they wouldn’t have died.”
The AP’s attempts to reach the former radio operator were unsuccessful.
When it broke in two and began to sink, the Trinity Spirit had at least 40,000 barrels of oil on board, according to Nigeria’s environmental department, which responded to examine the spill. It was capable, like most FPSOs, of storing more than a million barrels.
The agency said oil wasn’t leaking from the submerged tanks nor had it washed up on shore, but letters still arrived from community members in nearby Ondo and Delta states complaining about the spill. Oil sheens were visible fanning out from the vessel in satellite imagery for days.
Five bodies were recovered, and two were never found.
SINKING SHIP
Among the more than 30 ships identified by the AP as older than the Trinity Spirit is the Al-Zaafarana, floating off the coast of Egypt. At 54 years, it is one of the oldest FPSOs still in service. Close behind it are FPSOs in Malaysia and Brazil, each at least half a century old.
Along Nigeria’s coast, about 200 miles (320 km) south of where the Trinity Spirit caught fire, the FPSO Mystras is still in service at 47 years old, although industry reports have noted structural issues on the ship. The classification society DNV severed ties with the Mystras three years ago, ending its regular inspections. According to Rystad Energy, it was originally designed to operate only through 2014.
The Mystras’ owner, NNPC Limited, did not respond to AP’s requests for comment.
Further inland, the Trinity Spirit’s surviving crew members have been left to eke out a living as they wait for the wages they say were never paid. Aganyebi’s vision is poor from the glare of the explosion; Orofin’s hearing is damaged from the noise. He has a long scar on his leg. Both men spent 19 days in jail.
Yorgolo, who was the only survivor not charged with a crime, fell on his back when he jumped from the burning vessel and was unconscious when fishermen pulled him into their boat. He believes he wasn’t named as a suspect only because he spent months in the hospital suffering from an injured spine.
The charges were dropped in October last year after the Ondo State Ministry of Justice reviewed the case. In conversations with AP, the men vehemently denied setting the vessel on fire or illegally storing oil. They blamed the explosion on their employer, Shebah, and the years without maintenance on the ship.
For Aganyebi, it was clear the company had abandoned the Trinity Spirit long ago.
“No medical personnel, no safety officer, no radio man in that gigantic vessel,” he said.
Off the coast of Nigeria, the ship is still visible — split in two pieces and half submerged. As recently as September, in satellite imagery, oil appeared to be leaking from the site of the wreck. It’s unclear when authorities will remove the hazard or salvage the remaining oil, as slowly, the ship sinks further into the sea.
Wieffering reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporters Michael Biesecker in Washington, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.