Al Oraiq undergoing repairs after crash off Belgium

The 210,100 cbm Al Oraiq, which recently crashed with Dutch freighter Flinterstar off Belgium, is currently being repaired in Belfast Harbor in Northern Ireland.

The Q-Flex carrier, managed by K Line LNG Shipping (UK), entered into Harland and Wolff ship repair facility on Saturday, where repairs on the vessels’ bow began immediately, Belfast Harbor said.

According to data by Belfast’s port authority, the LNG vessel is expected to depart from the port around November 30.

K Line LNG Shipping did not respond to  an e-mail by LNG World News seeking comment regarding the matter.

Belgium collision

Al Oraiq collided with Flinterstar at 4am local time on 6 October eight kilometres off the Belgian coast, near the Zeebrugge LNG terminal.

The 130-metre long Flinterstar partially sank in a sand bank. All 12 crew members of the vessel were rescued.

Oil removal operations from the tanks of Flinterstar are still ongoing, according to Dutch shipping company Flinter, which owns the vessel.

After the incident, the LNG tanker was able to unload a Qatar-sourced cargo of the chilled gas at Fluxys-operated Zeebrugge terminal.

The cause of the incident is not known and it is the subject of a full investigation.

LNG World News Staff