Oil Spill After Two Tankers Collide off Japanese Coast

2015-10-23

A clean up operation is underway after a 14km long oil slick caused by a collision between two tankers, Japanese-flagged Wako Maru No 2 and Panamanian-flagged Sulphur Garland, 10 nautical miles off Shimonoseki, Japan, according to several media reports.

Both the 4,965 DWT Sulphur Garland, owned by Daiichi Tanker Co.,Ltd., and the 3,394 DWTWako Maru No. 2, owned by Heiwa Kaiun KK, are said to have sustained significant damage from the collision.

The estimated 13,000 litre oil spill is reported to have originated from a holed punched in Wako Maru No. 2's starboard side.

Upon arriving on the scene with 10 patrol boats, the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) is said to have deployed a containment boom around Wako Maru No. 2 to prevent further oil from escaping, and administered oil dispersant to reduce the spill's expansion.

The JCG is said to be investigating the cause of the collision, and it has been noted that the incident did not affect local marine traffic.Wako Maru No 2 is reported to have been sent to a Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. shipyard for repairs, while the Sulphur Garland, which received "serious" bow damage during the collision, has been sent to Moji for repairs.

Earlier this month, a Dutch-flagged freighter, Flinterstar, sunk after colliding with Marshall Island-flagged liquified natural gas (LNG) tanker Al-Oraiq 10 km off the Belgian Coast, resulting in oil leakage from the Flinterstar's tanks.

Source from : Ship&Bunker

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