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Tag: Container ship

Collision on Wester Scheldt

Collision on Wester Scheldt

Dan Fighter

On March 4, the 64 meter long, 1260 dwt cargo vessel Dan Fighter collided with the 337 meter long, 118,908 dwt container ship Maersk Genoa on the Wester Scheldt between Breskens and Vlissingen, Netherlands. The Dan Fighter had struck the stern of the Maersk Genoa. Both vessels sustained damage with the Maersk Genoa holed in the stern above the waterline. No reports of injuries or pollution released.

Maersk Genoa

The Dan Fighter was able to resume its voyage from Bilbao to Antwerp later the same day. The Maersk Genoa had just departed from Antwerp bound for Bremerhaven before the collision. The container ship was last reported at anchor. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Ze Hong

Ze Hong

Ze Hong

The 203 meter long 41,553 dwt container ship Ze Hong ran aground in the Bohai Sea at Yinghou, China. The boxship made a navigation error as it maneuvered into the harbor and ran up on a bank just off the breakwater.

The crew were able to refloat the vessel under its own power. Authorities dispatched three tugs which towed the Ze Hong to a nearby berth later the same day. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. Authorities launched an investigation into the incident.

APL Austria

APL Austria

APL Austria
Photo: NSRI

On February 13, the 295 meter long, 72807 dwt container ship APL Austria caught fire off Cape St. Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The fire started in the No. 4 hold when something inside a container ignited. The fire spread to adjacent containers spewing out plumes of dense smoke. The crew attempted to put of the blaze as a dozen containers were on fire.

Unable to extinguish the fire, the crew sent out a distress call for assistance to South African authorities. The vessel was instructed to proceed to an anchorage in Algoa Bay. A NSRI lifeboat from Port Elizabeth was launched  while several tugs with a firefighting team were dispatched to the scene. While tugs attempted to contain the blaze by dousing the containers with water, all four non-essential crew members were evacuated off the container ship.  One crewman of the APL Austria had sustained a leg injury and taken to hospital for treatment.

The APL Austria was escorted by the tugs to the Port of Ngqura. There local fire tugs finally extinguished the blaze.  Reports state the APL Austria had hazardous materials on board, but those containers did not catch on fire. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been reported. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.