The 80 meter long tanker Zhenpeng ran aground on the Pearl River near Guangzhou, China. The Zhenpeng, loaded with 2290 tons of gasoline, was struck by the passing 99 meter long cargo vessel Yanzhan 58. The tanker sustained hull damage and water ingress in the engine room. The Yanzhan 58 was towed to shallow water where it ran aground to avoid sinking. All 15 crew on the Zhenpeng were rescued. No reports of injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
The 60 meter long, 1400 dwt tanker Tamaya 1 went ashore near Robertsport, Liberia. The tanker had been last reported off Dakar on April 22 before drifting onto the beach in Liberia on May 4. When authorities boarded the vessel, they found there was no crew on board. Local reports suspect the owner was unable to pay the crew. Thus, the crew decided to abandon the tanker off Dakar. No reports of any pollution released. Liberia authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
https://youtu.be/Xr4m73ly4Dc
The mystery deepens around the grounding of the Tamaya 1. The Liberian newspaper, The New Dawn, reports that three unknown men were spotted fleeing the vessel around the same time a fire broke out in the captain’s cabin. Authorities have boarded the tanker, but have not stated if the incident was tied to looting or the destruction of evidence. There are additional rumors that the cause of the abandonment of the tanker was either due to piracy or illegal dumping off the coast.
On April 26, the 101 meter long, 7226 dwt tanker Black Pearl became disabled in the Coral Sea near Gladstone, Australia. The Black Pearl was en route to Gladstone from Kaohsiung when it suffered engine failure. A tug was dispatched and took the tanker under tow before it drifted ashore. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.