MOL Ship Incident 17 June 2013
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
JULY 9, 2013. The fire that broke out July 6
at the rear end of the remaining section of MOL Comfort was still
burning as of 0030 UTC (0930 JST) today says owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
(MOL) in its latest 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."
M.V ASIR Incident
[05-12-2013]
UNITED
ARAB SHIPPING COMPANY (SAG) regrets to report that on or about 0835
hrs. UTC on May 11, 2013, off Abu Elkizan Island (25-01 N and 036-05 E)
an explosion occurred in the Engine Room of its vessel m.v. ASIR en
route from Suez to Jeddah resulting in the loss of power of the vessel
besides injuries to three of its officers. Two of the injured officers
have already been removed from the vessel for medical treatment. The
vessel is now on emergency power and has developed a slow drift. UASC
has already entered into towage contracts for moving the vessel to
Jeddah where she was originally bound.
The UASC vessel mv JEBEL
ALI is near m.v. ASIR providing standby assistance until the towage
operations commence. Efforts are continuing to restore power to the
vessel. There is no damage to cargo nor any pollution on board the
vessel or at sea but the towage operations may entail a couple of days
after which the cargo on board would be discharged.
UASC regrets
the inconvenience caused to its customers and Partners on account of the
incident but is taking all steps to minimize the hardship to the extent
possible.
A further press release will follow regarding the
discharge and delivery of cargo on board the vessel once the time lines
are more clearly known closer to the conclusion of towage operations.
M.V. ASIR - 2nd update
[05-19-2013]
Further to the communication dated May 12, 2013,
UASC is pleased to inform having engaged the services of 2 Tugs from
Smit Salvage to move the vessel to Jeddah. Informatively full power was
restored to the generators prior to the commencement of towage around
0100 hrs on May 13, 2013. Prior to the arrival of tugs, UASC vessels mv
AIN SNAN and mv JEBEL ALI had, in turns, extended emergency support to
vessel.
The towage operations commenced on May 15, 2013 around
0845 hrs UTC and the vessel was cast off by the Smit tugs at OPL Jeddah
on or about 1612 hrs local time on May 18, 2013 when four tugs belonging
to the Saudi Port Authority took over and towed the vessel to Berth no:
51.at DPW Terminal in Jeddah. The vessel was all fast at the said berth
on or about 2018 hrs local time.
m.v. “ASIR” is expected to
complete the discharge of all 1841 containers on board around 2300 hrs
local time on May 19, 2013. Subsequently she would be moved to the
general cargo berth for inspection/emergency repairs.
The plan for
transshipment of cargo discharged from mv ASIR at Jeddah and originally
bound for Khorfakkan, Jebel Ali, Port Qassim and Nhava Sheva is as
follows:
- m.v. “AL MUTANABBI ” ETA Jeddah – 19.05.2013 am
[Reefers for Jebel Ali and cargo for Nhava Sheva]
- m.v. “HATTA” ETA Jeddah – 21.05.2013 am
[All cargo for Arabian Gulf ports via Khorfakkan and Jebel Ali except Reefers for Jebel Ali]
- m.v. “ABU DHABI” ETA Jeddah – 26.05.2013 am
[All Port Qassim cargo]
Any change in plans to the above will be communicated to all concerned by UASC Agents.
UASC will extend all cooperation for inspection of cargo post discharge from mv ASIR.
http://www.uasc.net/news/130512/mv-asir-incident
