The 289 meter long, 172515 dwt bulk carrier Cape Tavor caught fire while berthed at the Palumbo Shipyard in Valetta, Malta. The fire erupted from one the vessel’s holds as shipyard crews were conducting repairs. Local fire brigade was requested and was able to extinguish the blaze a few hours later. No reports of injuries. Damage from the fire had not been reported. Later reports from the shipyard claimed no one was working in the hold at the time of the fire. Officials have launched an investigation into the incident.
The 133 meter long, river tanker Volgoneft 215 caught fire while at the Kanonersky shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia. The tanker was receiving repairs in the cargo tanks when a workman spilled 150 liters of fuel oil on the deck. A 70 square meter section of the deck caught fire. Firefighters were called to the site and were able to extinguish the blaze after two hours. No reports of injuries. Authorities report that the workers had violated safety regulations during repairs.
The Volgoneft 215 allided with a lock on the Volgo-Baltic Canal back in May 2011.
The nearly completed freighter Sider Joy was under construction at a shipyard near Sendai Yamanishi when struck by the tsunami. Reports state the vessel is aground and damaged. The 9000 dwt freighter was slated to start sea trials beginning in April. One report states the ownership of the vessel rests with the shipyard, Yamanishi Shipbuilding and Iron Works, not the shipping company Siderno. Siderno, who is owned by the Romeo Group, had not yet accepted the vessel making the Sider Joy legally tied to Yamanishi Shipbuilding. Depending on the damage to the vessel, it may be sold as scrap. Damage to the shipyard and the surrounding infrastructure presents a challenge to repair and complete the vessel. A news release states the Sider Joy was valued over 20 million dollars before the tsunami.
Another vessel was in the shipyard, but not as completed as the Sider Joy. The freighter, identified as the Toripan, was in a Ishineomaki shipyard when the tsunami hit. The Toripan was further behind in construction in the shipyard compared to the Sider Joy. Reports state this vessel was damaged.
Reports have stated that there were more than 100 yardworkers on site during the tsunami. It seems that all the workers survived and were accounted for. This may change as more information is provided as extent of damage and lost is made clear.
