Video: HMM Containership and Greek Tanker Collide off Spain
Spanish authorities are detaining an HMM containership and a Greek-managed crude tanker after the vessels collided off the port of Algeciras early this morning, December 3. Both vessels remained seaworthy and the authorities are reporting no injuries or pollution at this time. There are 24 crewmembers on the containership and 25 on the tanker.
One of the largest containerships in the world, the HMM St. Petersburg (229,000 dwt) was inbound to Europe after a six-week trip from Yantian, China diverting around Africa and skipping a scheduled port call in Colombo, Sri Lanka. There is no information about the load aboard the vessel which was built in 2020 as one of the HMM’s new largest class of containerships but it has a rated capacity of 23,964 TEU. The ship is registered in South Korea.
The crude oil tanker Gloria Maris (156,620 dwt) registered in Liberia was outbound from Cartagena, Spain where it had departed on November 30. It had offloaded a cargo of 147,564 tonnes of crude and was in ballast awaiting its next assignment.
Spain’s Salvamento Maritime reports it was notified of the collision by the tanker at approximately 0520 this morning. The two vessels were approximately 8.9 miles southeast of Algeciras. It dispatched two patrol boats to assess the situation.
An initial inspection is reported to show structural damage to both vessels. Images show the bow of the tanker crushed. Pictures online appear to show a dent in the starboard side of the HMM containership amidship near the deckhouse and bridge. After determining there was no immediate danger, the Captain of the Port of Algeciras permitted the HMM containership to proceed to its berth in the port. The tanker was ordered to wait in the anchorage.
The Port Captain is leading the initial investigation to clarify the cause of the incident. Further safety checks have also been ordered before the vessels will be permitted to depart Algeciras.
Malaysia Evacuates Crew from Burning Car Carrier
[Brief] The Malaysian Coast Guard reported the evacuation of 19 crewmembers from a car carrier that caught fire on December 2. The crew of 18 Filipinos and one Malaysian were safely removed and transferred to shore by a Malaysian patrol boat.
The vessel named Malaysia Star (9,300 dwt) was traveling within Malaysia from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu in the northern part of the island of Borneo when it experienced problems. The fire was reported at 0840 local time Monday morning and the vessel dropped anchor approximately 9 nautical miles from Tanjung Laboh, Batu Pahat Johor, near the southern tip of the peninsular on the Malacca Strait.
Fire fighting efforts were reported to be continuing after the vessel was evacuated (Malaysia Maritime)
Malaysia Star is a locally owned and registered car carrier built in China in 1992. It has a capacity of 1,466 vehicles.
Two Malaysia Maritime patrol boats and a vessel from the Marine Police Force were dispatched to the vessel. Pictures show smoke coming from the vessel with the authorities reporting the fire was near the vessel’s fuel tanks. The crew was removed from the vessel due to the dangers.
The fire fighting effort was reported to be continuing. The cause of the fire was not known, but the vessel has been cited during Port State inspections. In June the authorities in Bangladesh identified issues with the fire detection system and fire dampers. In two prior Port State inspections the authorities listed deficiencies with oil and dirty mixtures from the machinery spaces.
Photos: Grounded Freighter Sinks Off Egypt's Red Sea Coast
On Monday, the grounded cargo ship VSG Glory sank just off Egypt's Red Sea coast, threatening to spill fuel in a region famous for its coral reefs.
On Nov. 22, the 300-foot coastal freighter VSG Glory was under way from Hodeidah to Port Tawfiq when she ran aground on a reef near El Quseir, just off the coast from two luxury resorts. The area is known for its near-shore diving attractions, including coral gardens and submerged caverns, and tourism is a major part of the local economy. She was reportedly carrying 70 tonnes of fuel oil in her tanks, and light pollution was reported shortly after the grounding. All crewmembers were safely evacuated.
Egypt's authorities have responded to the grounding with a substantial pollution control effort. According to local environmental advocacy group HEPCA, two large ships arrived at the site to pump out the vessel’s tanks, and as of Saturday, 250 tons of contaminated water and fuel had been removed. As the list increased, the response team worked to bring in additional pumping capacity, and divers were sent down to attempt to weld up penetrations in the hull. Nearly a dozen agencies and organizations are involved in the response, including Egypt's defense ministry.
However, the VSG Glory was in rough shape: photos taken Saturday show that the freighter was down by the stern, with water up to the main deck level. Reuters reported that she had a hull penetration nearly two feet long in the engine room.
By Monday, just the bow of the ship was visible above the waves, and the stern had slipped off the reef into deeper water.
Lightering Planned After Bulker Stuck in St. Lawrence Fails to Budge
Officials report a new plan is being developed after the Canadian bulker Tim S. Dool (28,471 dwt) failed to budge in several refloating attempts on the St, Lawrence River southwest of Montreal. The vessel has been stuck for more than a week.
The bulker which has a capacity for over 28,000 metric tons and is loaded with Canadian wheat went aground on the river midday on November 23. A survey confirmed that there was no significant hull damage, pollution, or water ingress. The crew aboard the vessel did not report any injuries, but the ship was firmly stuck on the U.S. side of the river near Massena, New York. The vessel is located outside the navigation channel, and the St. Lawrence Seaway continues to operate normally with no interruptions to traffic.
At the beginning of last week, reports said the ship was trying to free itself with locals saying that had seen the water churning and smoke coming from the funnel. But the ship built in 1967 and operated by Algoma Central Corporation on the Great Lakes would not budge.
They sent for reinforcements while the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the National Response Corporation coordinated efforts to complete an underwater survey to assess the feasibility of safely pulling the vessel free. Three tugs coming from Quebec completed the two-day trip, and on Friday, November 29, they tried to refloat the bulker. The Tim S. Dool still would not budge.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation report plans are being made to remove part of its cargo to lighten the ship before another attempt to refloat it is made. Barges will have to be brought along the river for the lightering effort which is expected to take several days.
For now, the vessel has become a local tourist attraction with river watches enjoying a rare view of a Great Lakes bulker stuck.
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