After losing power during a strong storm, a general cargo vessel near Taiwan ran aground, and nine members of the crew were successfully rescued. Containment measures are being taken by the Taiwanese Coast Guard as well as the Ocean Conservation Administration in response to the diesel fuel leak from the grounded vessel.
The 31-year-old vessel, “HAI SHOU,” is owned by a firm based in Cambodia. Its length is 60 meters, and its weight is 651 tons deadweight. The ship has a troubling history; in 2019, during its most recent port state inspection, it was found to have nearly eight safety violations.
The ship was owned by the Chinese at the time and was commonly referred to as the “Wan Xing”. After that, the ship was transferred to new owners, and Cameroon became the new flag state.
Shortly after leaving Taichung Port in Taiwan, on 16 December, the ship reported losing power. The ship was headed toward either the port of Kaohsiung, which is based in Taiwan, or Busan based in South Korea, and it carried no cargo.
The Taiwanese Coast Guard’s attempts to anchor the ship were unsuccessful because of unfavourable weather that included strong winds and large waves. As a result, the ship kept drifting. As the vessel got closer to the coast on December 17, the captain gave the order for the crew to disembark. Six crew members were safely rescued and hoisted onto land from the ship’s deck by the Taiwan National Airborne Service Corps.
The ship drifted on after the crew was evacuated until it had run aground on the Jibei Island. Per reports, the ship grounded about 750 meters offshore, causing about 20 tons of diesel fuel to escape. Unfavorable weather continued, making it impossible to set up an oil containment boom.
Currently, the oil spill has impacted more than 300 meters of shoreline, and the Ocean Conservation Administration is trying to contain it. Their methods include using absorbent rags and placing booms strategically to clear the oil from the coastal reef.
Reference: Fleetmon
