Boxship Hard Aground off Taiwan

A crew of 21 people was evacuated after the 2006-built containership TS Taipei ran aground off Shimen, Taiwan in the morning hours of March 10, according to local media reports.

The 20,615 dwt vessel lost propulsion and grounded on a rocky shallow due to harsh weather conditions at the site.

TS Taipei reportedly suffered breaches in the aft part and its engine room was flooded.

One of the vessel’s fuel tanks was also damaged, causing an oil spill in the area.

Due to inclement weather, the rescue vessels could not approach the containership, so the Taiwanese Coast Guard sent a helicopter to airlift the crew members.

None of the seafarers were injured.

Relevant authorities launched an investigating into the cause of the grounding, and salvage operations will be conducted as soon as the weather conditions allow.

At the time of the incident the vessel, managed by TS Lines, was on its way from Taiwan’s Keelung to Taichung.

World Maritime News Staff