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Author: Paul Hancock

W Sapphire

W Sapphire

W Sapphire
Photo: facebook

On August 18, the 229 meter long, 81681 dwt bulk carrier W Sapphire (IMO: 9605645) suffered an explosion on the Patapsco River off Baltimore harbor, Maryland. The W Sapphire had completed loading a cargo of coal and had just left the CSX Coal Dock when there was an explosion in the forward cargo hold. After the explosion, there was a large plume of smoke resulting from a fire. The bulk carrier sustained hull damage, but remained afloat.  The Baltimore fire department dispatched firefighters and fireboats to the scene.  Reports state the fire was under control by closing the vessel’s hatches, but the fireboats remained on scene. Tugboats assisted the bulk carrier to a nearby anchorage where the vessel could be inspected.

Reports state all 23 crew on board the W Sapphire were uninjured. The United States Coast Guard has detained the vessel.  The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. There was some speculation that explosion was caused by coal dust, but there has been no confirmation from authorities.  Some news accounts suggest the explosion was in the vessel’s engine room, but video captured of the incident makes that most unlikely.

 

Maly

Maly

Yeosu Tanker Fire
Photo: Yeosu Coast Guard

On the early morning of August 16, the 91.7 meter long, 3842 dwt tanker Maly (IMO: 9301691) and a 24 ton cargo vessel caught fire in the Sea of Japan while moored off Yeosu, South Korea. The Maly was loaded with 2,500 tons of a hazardous chemicals categorized as C5 along with 100 tons of fuel oil when a fire broke out.  The blaze quickly spread to the smaller moored cargo vessel.  The Coast Guard mobilized 15 vessels and one fireboat to fight the fire. Reports state the Coast Guard was able to extinguish the blaze on the cargo vessel within a few hours, but it would take 6 hours before the fire would be extinguished on the tanker.

Reports state that all 14 crew were rescued off the Maly, but 2 crew suffered minor injuries.  One of the 4 crew members on the cargo vessel perished during the incident.

The South Korean Coast Guard has not disclosed the name of the cargo vessel. Reports state the Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident and the extent of damage caused by the fire.

Anna

Anna

Anna
Photo: ndr.de

On the afternoon of August 16, the 80 meter long self-propelled barge Anna (MMSI: 261182657) allided on the Hunte River near Oldenburg, Germany. The Anna struck a railway bridge between Oldenburg and Bremen with its wheelhouse. The Anna sustained severe damage to its wheelhouse, but no one was injured from the incident.

Anna

Authorities halted traffic on the bridge until it could be fully surveyed. An inspection found only minor paint scrapes was the limit of the damage to the bridge. Traffic on the bridge was restored 2 hours later. Reports state the incident was most likely due to the master of the Anna misjudged the clearance and had not lowered the wheelhouse enough to pass safely under the bridge. The water police has launched as an investigation into the incident.