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Month: March 2012

Update: Stolt Explosion

Update: Stolt Explosion

The 150 meter long, 25269 dwt chemical tanker Stolt Valor suffered an explosion while proceeding through the Persian Gulf near Jubail, Saudi Arabia ( 27.5072° / 50.26581).     Twenty four of the 25 crew on board abandoned ship into the vessel’s life rafts.   All were quickly rescued by a nearby naval vessel.  One crewman was reported missing but was confirmed dead the next day.   Authorities have dispatched fire fighting tugs to the scene.   The Stolt Valor had departed from Jubail with 13000 metric tons of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) bound for Bahrain.   Reports state MTBE is highly toxic and is a known to cause cancer.

The Stolt Valor was held off Somalia in 2008 after being hijacked by pirates.    The vessel remained in pirates hands for two months until it was released.

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Dong Nai River Collision

Dong Nai River Collision

The tug TG 6715 sank on the Dong Nai River near  Bien Hoa, Vietnam.   The tug was at anchor waiting for the water level to rise when it was struck by a barge.    The barge was one of many being towed carrying sand from Long An to Dong Nai which had been waiting for the river’s water level to rise.  While the barge was anchoring, the anchor line broke to the barge sending it downstream and crashing into the TG 6715.   One crewman from the tug fell into the river and was reported missing.  A search by authorities and local fisherman found no trace of the crewman. The remaining crew were safely rescued.   Authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.

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