Bulker Comes Free on High Tide After Being Aground for a Week off Australia
The grounded bulker Cape Falcon (182,066 dwt) came free Thursday morning, September 24, in an earlier-than-planned effort. A salvage attempt had been scheduled to start during the evening tide for the vessel, which grounded on September 18.
Maritime Safety Queensland (Australia) reported the vessel had been refloated on the morning high tide after several previous efforts over the past week had failed to free the Capesize bulker. The vessel is reported to be fully laden and was aground approximately six nautical miles off Gladstone, located in the northeast of Australia.
The Regional Harbour Master had approved a salvage plan yesterday. They said a refloating effort was planned for 1900 on Thursday local time when the high tide was expected to reach around 3.6 meters (nearly 12 feet). The effort was dependent on favorable weather conditions, the sea state, and tidal conditions.
Cape Falcon was maneuvering at slow speeds, according to Maritime Safety Queensland, while attempting to anchor in the bunkering anchorage off the Port of Gladstone. It was declared aground at 1524 local time on September 18. Maritime Safety Queensland was enforcing a one-nautical-mile exclusion zone around the vessel and said that while it was outside the port shipping channel, there would still be some impact to the shipping schedule. Tugs were being used from the port to support the recovery effort, but attempts to pull the vessel free over the weekend failed.
Cape Falcon grounded six nautical miles offshore while attempting to anchor for bunkering (Maritime Safety Queensland)
The ship, which was built in 2022 and is approximately 292 meters (958 feet) in length, is managed by Japan’s Shoei Kisen Kaisha and registered in Liberia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau advises there are no reports of injury to the crew and no pollution reported, while media reports said it grounded near the edge of the dredge spoil ground.
Cape Falcon was directed after being refloated to anchor pending a further investigation. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detained the ship to ensure all safety and regulatory requirements are met before the vessel resumes service. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it would launch a short investigation, including conducting interviews and collecting evidence and data, and it had ordered the ship’s voyage data recorder preserved. Investigators will be looking at the ship’s tracking data, weather, the crew and operator, and its maintenance records.
Gladstone is one of Australia’s large dry bulk ports and a major export location. Port officials note it handles more than 30 commodities, including coal and minerals.
Giant Japanese Bulker Remains Aground Off Australia After Four Days
Efforts, so far, have been unsuccessful in pulling the large, Japanese-owned bulker free after it grounded last Friday (September 18) off the Gladstone port in Northeast Australia. Officials are monitoring the case and plan to start a full investigation just as soon as the ship is salvaged.
The Capesize dry bulk carrier Cape Falcon (182,066 dwt) was maneuvering at slow speeds, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), when it went aground south of the bunkering anchorage off Gladstone. Reports place the ship about six nautical miles outside the port and say the ship, which is 292 meters (958 feet) in length, had been attempting to anchor for bunkering. It is near the edge of the dredge spoil ground.
The ship, which was built in 2022, is owned by Japan’s Shoei Kisen Kaisha and registered in Liberia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau advises there are no reports of injury to the crew and no pollution reported at this point, but the ship remains stuck, possibly in the mud. Tugs went alongside on Saturday and attempted to pull the vessel free, and the media reports said there was a second attempt on Sunday. As of the beginning of Tuesday in Australia, the vessel’s AIS still reads “aground.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says the ship will be detained when it is free. It will require a seaworthiness inspection before it will be permitted to depart. The tracking shows it had come from China and made stops in multiple Australian ports before grounding.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reports it will launch a full investigation, including conducting interviews and collecting evidence and data when it is appropriate. For now, it has ordered the ship’s voyage data recorder preserved. Investigators will be looking at the ship’s tracking data, weather, the crew and operator, and its maintenance records.
ABC reports the ship is outside the shipping channel. However, port operations have been impacted as the recovery efforts continue. They were waiting for news of the appointment of salvors, but the ATSB points out the salvage efforts are the responsibility of the owner and operator. ATSB says it is not involved in the recovery operations, but it is being closely monitored as part of the safety investigation.
Gladstone is one of Australia’s large dry bulk ports and a major export location. Port officials note it handles more than 30 commodities, including coal and minerals.
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