Browsed by
Tag: Pollution

Liquid Gem

Liquid Gem

Liquid Gem
Photo: pronews.tw

On the night of December 7, the 99 meter long, 5000 dwt tanker Liquid Gem (IMO: 8688717) ran aground in the port of Taichung, Taiwan. The tanker had been at anchor outside the port when the anchor began to drag due to stormy conditions. Unable to get the main engine started, the tanker drifted until it ran aground near a dock half a mile south of Taichung. Reports state several crew jumped overboard into the water fearing the Liquid Gem would capsized as the tanker developed a port side list. A patrol vessel was unable to approach the vessel due to the strong current so a large crane was dispatched to rescue the crew. The crane hoisted the 14 crew off the tanker safely. Authorities were able to rescue 2 of the 3 crew who jumped into the sea. Authorities continue the search for the missing crew person.

The Liquid Gem sustained hull damage and water ingress in the engine room. Authorities stated that oil pollution had been released and that booms would be placed around the vessel. On December 9, a salvage team was able to seal the exhaust valves to prevent further pollution being released. Reports state there was still diesel fuel in the tanker’s fuel tanks. Authorities stated the cleaning of the oil pollution and pumping out the water ingress would be completed by December 10.

 

VSG Glory

VSG Glory

VSG Glory
Photo: x.com

On the morning of November 23, the 100 meter long, 8191 dwt cargo vessel VSG Glory (IMO: 9103025) ran aground in the Red Sea off El Quseir, Egypt. The VSG Glory was en route to Port Tawfiq in Suez from Yemen with 4,000 tons of cargo. Proceeding in heavy seas and strong winds, the cargo vessel suffered a technical malfunction off El Quseir. The VGS Glory drifted until it was nearly ashore when it pilled up on a coral reef.  No reports of injuries.

The vessel sustained substantial damage with a fracture in the hull and water ingress causing the VSG Glory to sink by the stern. The engine room was reported as flooded releasing pollution in the area.  Authorities dispatched a team to the scene and placed booms and absorbent pads to contain the pollution. These booms would later separate allowing the pollution to contaminate the reef and nearby shoreline.   Reports state the coral reef had extensive damage caused by the grounding and pollution released.

 

 

Geumseong 135

Geumseong 135

Geumseong 135
Photo: Korea Coast Guard

On the early morning hours of November 8, the 36.67 meter long, 129 ton fishing vessel Geumseong 135 (IMO: 8916592) sank in the Korea Strait near Jeju Island, South Korea. The Geumseong 135 had been hauling in its catch when it lost stability, rolled over and sunk. A few minutes after the vessel sank, the Coast Guard received an alert and quickly responded. The Coast Guard deployed 14 patrol vessels and 4 helicopters to search for survivors. The Coast Guard had requested additional vessels and aircraft to assisted in the search.  Rescuers found 15 of the 27 of the Geumseong 135 crew. Two of the crew rescued were found in cardiac arrest and were later declared deceased.

Over the following days, the Coast Guard recovered two additional bodies from the sea with 10 crew still missing. An oil sheen was visible over the wreck which rests in a depth of 80 to 90 meters.

Reports state the reason the Geumseong 135 lost stability due to the size of the catch in the net was 3 to 5 times greater than normally be caught. The incident is under investigation.