The 143 meter long, 12,135 dwt heavy lift vessel Yu Zhou Qi Hang has been driven ashore some 2.4 miles north of Yeliu Cape, Taiwan by Super Typhoon Kong-Rey. Reports state the vessel has sustained significant hull damage and one of the heavy gantry cranes has collapsed onto the shoreline. Authorities are monitoring pollution as the Yu Zhou Qi Hang had some 247 tons of heavy oil fuel and 37 tons of light oil in its fuel tanks. Authorities have placed booms around the entrances to harbors of Dongao, Yehliu and Guikong.
Photo: Taiwan Environmental Protection Dept
Photo: taiwannews.com.tw
Photo: Taiwan Environmental Protection Dept
News reports state the vessel had lost engine power shortly after leaving Keelung which had not been initially reported.
On October 30, the 143 meter long, 12,135 dwt heavy lift vessel Yu Zhou Qi Hang became disabled off Cape Yehliu, Taiwan. The Yu Zhou Qi Hang had departed from Jilo bound for Zhangzhou with a heavy cargo of three gantry cranes. The vessel had travelled on a few hours when it stop making headway as it approached the outer edge of Super Typhoon Kong-Rey. With wind gusts up to 300 kilometers per hour and waves reaching 16 feet, the master of the Yu Zhou Qi Hang felt the vessel was in danger and requested assistance. Authorities initially dispatched tugboats to the scene, but they were driven back by the rough conditions. The Yu Zhou Qi Hang dropped both its anchors just over half a mile offshore to keep the vessel from being blown ashore.
Photo: focustaiwan.tw
Fortunately, the Taiwanese Coast Guard had dispatched a patrol vessel that was able to reach the Yu Zhou Qi Hang. The patrol boat arrived on scene and was able to safely rescue all 17 crew off the heavy lift vessel.
Authorities are preparing the possible major oil spill if the Yu Zhou Qi Hang is blown ashore ripping open its fuel tanks. Reports state the area has a stockpile of absorbent pads that can be deployed.
Photo: taiwanenglishnews.com
The Yu Zhou Qi Hang had been an earlier incident on October 14. As the vessel arrived in Keelung, it allided with an older gantry crane on the dock causing it to collapse. The incident resulted in destruction of the crane and destroying five empty containers.
