Greek Bulk Carrier Carrying 175,000 Tonnes Of Iron Ore Suffers Damage Off Vietnam’s Dung Quat Port

A Greek-flagged bulk carrier carrying more than 174,000 tonnes of iron ore from Malaysia to Vietnam has been damaged off Quang Ngai Province after water entered three ballast tanks.

The ship Merchant Mariner was about 15 nautical miles from the Dung Quat anchorage when water was found in ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side.

The water caused the vessel to develop a slight list.

Vietnamese authorities are working with the shipowner, captain and other agencies to keep the vessel and its crew safe. They are also preparing plans to deal with the cargo and prevent any possible oil pollution.

The vessel entered waters off Quang Ngai on September 18 while sailing towards Dung Quat Port. Authorities said it may have struck a submerged rock.

The Merchant Mariner is 291.9 metres long and has a deadweight capacity of 179,570 tonnes. It was carrying nearly 175,000 tonnes of iron ore for Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel Joint Stock Company, the consignee of the cargo.

According to the Quang Ngai Maritime Administration, seawater entered ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side. These tanks are used to control the vessel’s balance and stability.

An inspection found that the vessel may have hit a submerged rock.

One report from the Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority and Dung Quat Port Border Guard Station said the incident happened at about 4 p.m. on September 18.

Another report said the vessel detected water entering the tanks at 11:30 a.m. that day. At the time, the vessel was about 15 nautical miles from the Dung Quat anchorage.

Authorities said the vessel had been settling deeper into the water after the incident.

At 6:45 p.m. on September 18, the water depth around the hull was reported at 18.87 metres at the bow, 19.28 metres amidships and 19.69 metres at the stern.

The Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority instructed the shipowner and captain to assess possible damage to the hull and urgently prepare an emergency rescue plan.

They were also told to close the fuel-tank valves and keep a tugboat on standby around the clock.

Authorities asked the shipowner and captain to use equipment onboard to help keep the vessel stable while it remains in Dung Quat port waters.

The source reports contain two different figures for the number of crew onboard.

One report said the vessel had 24 crew members, including eight Greeks and 16 Filipinos. It identified Greek captain Chondros Charilaos as the master and said all 24 crew members were safe and in stable condition.

Another report from the local authorities said the vessel had 22 crew members from Greece and the Philippines, again identifying Chondros Charilaos as the captain.

No water had been detected in the cargo holds, and authorities reported no signs of environmental pollution.

The vessel was also carrying fuel oil and diesel oil.

One report said it had about 3,375 tonnes of fuel oil and 227 tonnes of diesel oil onboard. A later report referred to more than 3 tonnes of fuel oil and 227 tonnes of diesel oil.

Authorities have ordered measures to reduce the risk of environmental pollution. Tugboats are required to remain on duty around the clock and be ready to respond to an oil spill or fire.

The Dung Quat Port Border Guard Station has also increased monitoring of the vessel and the surrounding anchorage area.

Rescue teams, insurers and surveyors have been authorised to access the vessel and assess the situation.

The shipowner, captain and Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel Joint Stock Company have been instructed to prepare a cargo-handling plan based on the vessel’s condition.

Authorities said unloading would only begin after all safety requirements had been met and the relevant agencies had approved the plan.

On September 20, agencies continued to assess the vessel and prepare plans to remove the cargo.

References: qdnd, dtinews