Collision

HMM and CSCL boxships collide

China shipping Container Lines' 4,252-teu boxship CSCL Qingdao (built 2001) and Hyundai Merchant Marine's (HMM) 1,005-teu Hyundai Harmony (built 2002) have collided outside the Korean port of Busan.

Reports say the Malta-flagged CSCL Qingdao sustained damage to its port side shell that extends below the waterline and measures about 6 metres.

A total of nine containers were lost overboard, but seven are said to have subsequently been retrieved. Substantial damage to cargo is anticipates.

The Panama-flagged Hyundai Harmony is said to have sustained damage to its bulbous bow and the surrounding deck area and has returned to port for repairs.

The CSCL Qingdao is chartered from the Ofer Brothers while HMM has the Hyundai Harmony on charter from Cido Shipping.

P&I coverage for the CSCL Qingdao is provided by the London Club, while that for the Hyundai Harmony comes from the Japan Ship Owners' P&I Association.

There are no reports of any injuries to crewmembers aboard either ship.

LPG carrier in fatal collision

Chinese state media report that at least one seafarer is dead after a collision off Lushun today.
The South Korean LPG carrier Saehan Galaxy (built 1990) and a small Chinese merchant ship collided off the northeast Chinese port this morning local time.

Some reports mistakenly identify the South Korean ship as an LNG carrier.

The Chinese vessel, Jingan No6, sank after the collision. None of the 19 crewmen are said to have been in lifeboarts. One seafarer is known dead and another is still missing after extensive search-and-rescue operations.

The official Xinhua News Agency gives a figure of 4,987 as the tonnage of the otherwise unidentified Jingan No 6 and says it was carrying 84 tonnes of bunkers and other oil.

Saehan Galaxy has been ordered into port at Dalian for further investigations, says China's Xinhua news agency. Its condition has not been reported.

Seoul-based Saehan Marine operates some 12 small chemical tankers and LPG carriers.

A vessel belonging to Dalian Far East Intl Shipping was involved in a collision with another vessel in Pusan. Our vessel was arrested and collision security for US$350,000 was demanded for her release. Our vessel was insured locally in China, and their LOU was rejected by the opponent vessel. Our vessel's insurer was unable to provide an alternative means of providing security such as a bank guarantee and the vessel was detained for about 14 days on this account. Eventually the owners had no alternative but to put forward their own cash security to release the vessel. Fortunately our vessel was insured for Strike Club cover which reimbursed the owners the full amount of the 14 days attributable to the vessel's insurers' inability to provide suitable security.