Barge - Shipwreck Log

Geungwang

December 14, 2024 Paul Hancock

On the morning of December 9, the 29 tonne fishing vessel Geungwang collided with a 456 tonne barge in the Sea of Japan six kilometers off the coast of Gyeongju, South Korea. The Geungwang capsized after the collision trapping the eight crew on board. The Korea Coast Guard was alerted and dispatched 15 vessels and 6 helicopters to conduct a search and rescue operation. Divers were deployed and found seven persons inside the overturned fishing vessel. They would be recovered and taken to hospital where they were pronounced deceased. One member of the Geungwang crew is still reported as missing. Reports state there were no injures among the 10 crew onboard the barge. No further details reported.

AMT Challenger

December 10, 2024 Paul Hancock

On December 6, the 122 meter long, 19,129 dwt barge AMT Challenger (IMO: 9557721) ran aground in the English Channel on the French coast and Sotteville-sur-Mer, France. The barge was proceeding under tow by the 75 meter long, 3567 dwt tugboat Boka Glacier (IMO: 9344796) from Rotterdam bound for Portsmouth when the towline broke as a result of storm Darragh. With rough conditions, the Boka Glacier was unable to reattach a towline. The following day two tugboats were dispatched to assist, but 40 knot winds made it impossible to reconnect the towline. The morning of December 8, a team was hoisted onto the AMT Challenger to attempt to drop the barge’s anchor, but the anchor didn’t hold. The AMT Challenger eventually ran aground on a sandbank some 300 meters off shore. The barge’s ballast pumps were engaged to keep the vessel stable.

Reports state the owners of the vessel have drawn up a salvage plan. Authorities are currently monitoring the vessel. No reports of injuries or pollution released.

CMT 252

November 21, 2024 Paul Hancock

On the late morning of November 13, the barge CMT 252 caught fire on the Mobile River near the Cochrane-Africatown bridge in Mobile, Alabama. The 17 meter long towboat Judson B (MMSI: 367004950) was pushing a string of barges when the CMT 252 loaded with a cargo of crushed cars started to billow out dense smoke. The Judson B pulled the CMT 252 away from the other barges a distance away as local firefighters dispatched a fire boat along with a drone with thermal cameras. Assisted by the 28 meter long tugboat Lisa Cooper, the fire fighters contained the blaze later the same day.