On September 24, the 200 meter long, 19,160 dwt car carrier Jisu Fortune (IMO: 9981570) allided with a lock in the English Channel at the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium. The Jisu Fortune was departing from Zeebrugge bound for Casablanca, Morocco when a strong gust of wind caused the car carrier to strike the Pierre Vandamme lock. Both the vessel and the lock sustained undisclosed damage. Authorities detained the Jisu Fortune until it could be inspected. Traffic was halted for several hours until the lock damage could be assessed. Belgium authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. There were no reports of injuries or pollution released.
Photo: flows.be
Photo: flows.be
The Jisu Fortune was built in 2025 and launched in May. The vessel has 12 decks that can carry 7000 personal vehicles. The car carrier also uses LNG fuel to help reduce emissions.
On the night of August 4, the 292 meter long, 61609 dwt container ship Maersk Gironde (IMO: 9235555) collided with the 200 meter long, 18881 dwt car carrier SFL Composer (IMO: 9293583) in the Samsø Bælt near Hatter Barn reef, Denmark. The Maersk Gironde was headed to Gdansk from Wilhelmshaven when it attempted to overtake the SFL Composer when the vessels collided. Both vessels sustained hull damage above the waterline. The SFL Composer port stern partially crushed in and a large gash almost halfway along its port side hull. Both vessels maintained power with the SFL Composer proceeding to anchor off Sejerø while the Maersk Gironde to Fyns Hoved. There were no reports of injuries on either vessel.
Photo: tv-kalundborg.dk
Photo: tv-kalundborg.dk
Photo: tv-kalundborg.dk
Photo: fyens.dk
Photo: fyens.dk
Photo: fyens.dk
Danish authorities have detained the vessels while both are inspected for seaworthiness. Divers were requested and did an underwater inspection to see if there was any damage below the waterline. Reports state the SFL Composer was taken under tow by 2 tugs and proceeded to a shipyard for inspection. The Danish Maritime Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.
For other reports from the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board, check our growing archive of reports.
On June 23, the the 183 meter long, 12250 dwt car carrier Morning Midas (IMO: 9289910) sank in the Pacific Ocean some 450 miles southwest of Alaska’s Aleutian Island of Adak after being on fire for nearly 3 weeks. The salvage company Zodiac Maritime stated the vessel had suffered water ingress from the fire damage causing the vessel to finally sink. The car carrier sank to a depth of 16,404 feet.
POLLUTION
There was no reports of visible pollution at the site of the sinking. The United States Coast Guard reported they have vessels on scene ready to respond to any pollution released. Currently, the salvage vessels 47 meter long Garth Foss (IMO: 9070266) and 69 meter long Salvage Worker (IMO: 9250024) were onsite and equipped with pollution response equipment. Additionally, the 57 meter long offshore supply vessel Endeavour (IMO: 8623468) had departed from Dutch Harbor with oil pollution containment equipment and will be on site of the wreck by June 26.
Photo: USCG
The Coast Guard nor the Zodiac Maritime have no reported if any oil pollution had been released between June 9 through June 23. The Morning Midas may still have 1,530 metric tons of fuel oil along with 350 metric tons of gas oil (MGO) within its fuel tanks. Even if the fire onboard burned some of the fuel, there will be a significant amount of fuel that maybe released. This may not result in any oil pollution reaching the surface due to the depth of the wreck. In research after the Deepwater Horizon disaster (Fisher, C.R., P.A. Montagna, and T.T. Sutton. 2016. Oceanography 29(3):182–195), oil pollution can remain on the ocean bottom rather than appear on the surface as an oil slick.
INVESTIGATION
There has been no press release if the incident will be investigated any further. Some news accounts stated the Morning Midas was already unsalvageable before the Zodiac Maritime vessels arrived on site. Due to its location and great depth (the Morning Midas is nearly 3/4 of mile deeper than the wreck of the Titanic), the investigation may not include any underwater surveys using ROVs. It is also doubtful any voyage data recording devices survived the fire prior to the sinking. Additionally, the car carrier sank in international waters and may not require any US Coast Guard or other United States authorities to investigate.
