Refuge for chemical tanker after 100-day ordeal

After almost 100 days at sea following a severe collision and fire, the chemical tanker Maritime Maisie, owned by Singapore-based MSI Ship Management, has been given refuge in South Korea.

The Hong Kong-flagged tanker was carrying an estimated 30,000 tons of a hazardous cargo when it was involved in a collision with a pure car and truck carrier near the port of Busan, in December last year, subsequently catching fire.

The ship has since been held at sea by tugs, with the Japanese and South Korean governments unwilling to give it refuge due to the hazardous nature of its cargo and the severe damage to the hull, despite the risk of a wider environmental disaster if it breaks up and sinks. Poor weather conditions in January and February, and prolonged exposure to swells of up to four metres high, complicated matters further and may also have contributed further damage.

Wijendra Peiris, team leader, Lloyd’s Register’s Ship Emergency Response Service (SERS), said: “This was quite an unusual situation and multiple teams in Lloyd’s Register had to work together to resolve it. Maritime Maisie was a Hong Kong-flagged, Singapore-owned vessel carrying a hazardous cargo.

“After it was damaged in Korean waters, the vessel drifted into Japanese waters, its fire raging for well over a week. This, together with poor weather conditions, meant we had to make sure our calculations of the ships condition and recommendations to the owners were as accurate as possible.” The vessel was not safe enough for Lloyd’s Register surveyors to get on board and properly assess the damage until March.

International co-operation

Lloyd’s Register’s provided a breadth of services, also supporting the client with media activity. Now that the vessel has arrived in port, the classification society will be involved in overseeing the safe unloading of the cargo, cleaning of the ship and a full assessment of the vessel to see if it can be salvaged. Further assistance for the safe movement to a repair or recycling facility will also be required.

Iain Wilson, regional marine manager for Asia, Lloyd’s Register, said: “This is an excellent example of marine employees across multiple countries and teams pulling together and offering fantastic levels of support to a key client. Individuals from SERS, Class and surveyors in Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong all played a part in helping this vessel get safely to port and should be proud of that achievement.”

Ship owners, salvors and insurers recently called for places of refuge for stricken vessels, after a number of high profile cases such as Maritime Maisie, Stolt Valor and MSC Flaminia.