MOL Comfort Disaster Update: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.(MOL) has issued an update on the status of the containership MOL Comfort.
The five year old vessel broke into two sections, June 17, after encountering heavy weather while under way on the Indian Ocean
MOL says that the aft part is drifting near 13'00"N 61'29"E in an east-northeast direction.
The status of the fore part remains to be confirmed as visibility is limited due to adverse weather. A patrol boat that departed Port of Jebel Ali, U.A.E. on June 19 is expected to arrive at the ocean site on June 24.
Some containers might have been lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo is confirmed to be aboard the aft part. The status of the cargo on the fore part is to be confirmed.
MOL says it has contracted with a salvage company and is proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls.
MOL confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.
2nd UPDATE
The five year old containership broke into two parts June 17 when the vessel encountered heavy weather in the Indian Ocean. Salvage efforts have been underway since then, but the aft section of the ship sank under tow June 26.
The remaining section is under tow and one tug boat and two rescue boats have been responding to the fire. The Indian Coast Guard vessel Samudra Prahari, with an external fire fighting system, arrived at the scene around 0030 UTC on July 8, and immediately joined the fire fighting.
"However, due to adverse weather, the work has not been progressing smoothly and the fire is not yet under control," says MOL. "Observations show that many containers on the deck have been burnt out."
