Shipwreck off Yemen coast

MOL COMFORT

MOL COMFORT

• It was built in 2008.

• Country of registry – Bahamas.

• The ship broke in two parts off the coast of Yemen.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Nagasaki shipyard in Japan.

• Chartered by American President lines, APL Russia.

• Transferred to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in 2012.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Post Panamax Vessel.

• Over all length of 316 meters.

• Draught of 14.5 meters.

• DWT of 90,613 tonnes.

• Container capacity of 8110 TEUs.

• Could run up to 25.25 knots (46.73 km/h)

• Six auxiliary diesel engines.

SHIPWRECK

• On 17 June 2013, the ship suffered a crack amidships.

• The vessel was underway from Singapore to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

• 4,382 containers equivalent to 7,041TEU.

• There was a crew of 26.

• They were rescued from by the German-flagged container ship Yantian Express.

• Both sections remained afloat.

• Smit Salvage Singapore was contracted for salvage operation.

• On 24 June, four tugboats arrived.

• On June 27, the stern section sank.

• 1,700 containers sank.

• 1,500 metric tonnes of fuel.

• On 2nd July, the tow broke free.

• On 6 July a fire broke out in the rear part of the bow section.

• Indian Coast Guard assisted in extinguishing fire .

• By 10 July, 2,400 containers had been destroyed by fire .

• Sank at 19°56′N 65°25′E.

• To a depth of 3,000 meters (9,800 ft).

• 1,600 metric tons of fuel oil.

• No major oil spill was reported.

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT

• The exact cause of the accident is not known.

• Most probable reasons could be :- Basic design and building faults. Disbalance of containers. False cargo weight declarations. Faulty cargo plan. Faulty ballasting of the vessel.

IMAPCT ON ENVIRONMENT

• There was not any major oil spill.

• Thin oil film on the surface.

• Dark fumes and smoke were released.

• Containers are still floating in the ocean.

• 840 nautical miles off Mumbai.