Cargo Ship HAI SHOU
Nine crew members were successfully rescued from a general cargo ship that ran aground near Taiwan after losing power during a severe storm. The Taiwanese Coast Guard and Ocean Conservation Administration are currently engaged in containment efforts to address the leaked diesel fuel from the grounded vessel.
The vessel, named the “HAI SHOU,” is owned by a Cambodian company and is 31-years old. It measures 60 meters in length and weighs 651 deadweight tons. The ship has a concerning track record, being flagged with nearly eight safety violations during its last port state inspection conducted in 2019. Back then the ship was known as the “Wan Xing” and was under Chinese ownership. The ship has subsequently changed hands and its flag state changed to Cameroon.
Departing from Taichung Port, Taiwan, on December 16th, the ship reported power loss shortly after setting sail. The ship did not have any cargo onboard and its intended destination was either the port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan or Busan in South Korea.
Efforts by the Taiwanese Coast Guard to anchor the vessel proved futile due to adverse weather conditions characterized by strong winds and high waves. Consequently, the ship continued to drift. By December 17th, upon nearing the coastline, the ship’s captain ordered the crew to abandon ship. The Taiwan National Airborne Service Corps successfully rescued and lifted six crew members from the ship’s deck onto the shore.
After the crew evacuation, the ship continued drifting until it ran aground on Jibei Island, an offshore island on Taiwan’s west coast. Reports indicate that the vessel ran aground approximately 750 meters from the shore, resulting in a diesel fuel leak of around 20 tons. Adverse weather conditions persisted, preventing the deployment of an oil containment boom.
Presently, the Ocean Conservation Administration is working to contain the oil spill, which has affected over 300 meters of shoreline. Their efforts involve the strategic placement of booms and the use of absorbing rags to clean up the oil from the coastal reef.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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