UPDATE: Locals prevented CSL TARANTAU docking at Puerto Punta Rincón Coal Terminal, where she is supposed to offload coal. Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (Senan) on Nov 16 tried to convince protesters to let the ship in, but judging from ship’s Nov 17 morning position, unsuccessfully. If coal temperature exceeds 55 deg, coal might combust or explode, on the ship with 24 crew on board. Locals don’t care, though to think of it, this Coal Terminal is the source of jobs and financing for locals and local communities.
The company Minera Panamá S.A, a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals, has requested the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) for the emergency docking of bulk carrier CSL TARANTAU, as it has become known on Nov 16. The ship is loaded with coal destined for Cobre Panama Project (Cobre Panamá is a large open-pit copper mine in Panama, located west of Panama City and some 10 nm from the Caribbean Sea coast). Coal temperature in cargo hold increased, triggering the fear of coal-spontaneous combustion, which might result in major fire, with all risks it implies. The ship arrived in Colon waters on Nov 1 from Colombia, and since Nov 1 was cruising off Colon coast. As of 0200 UTC Nov 17, she was moving in northern direction at some 2 knots speed, with no tugs or SAR vessels visible nearby. It doesn’t look like shelter was granted, at least yet.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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