Iron Chieftain Leaves on Final Journey for Turkish Scrapyard

Bulker Iron Chieftain, which suffered a major fire in June 2018, has left Port Kembla for its final resting place in Turkey.

The 1993-built, self discharging vessel departed the Australian port on its lengthy journey on March 27.

Iron Chieftain, featuring 50,600 dwt, ignited on June 18 while alongside Berth 113 in Port Kembla Harbour. The bulker was discharging a load of dolomite when the belt drive system caught fire, which quickly spread along the system.

It took five days before the fire was brought completely under control, with 110 firefighters and 5 units daily fighting the blaze from the wharf and 2 Svitzer tugs spraying water directly onto the flames.

As the bulker suffered irreparable damage, the ship’s operator CSL Group on July 10 made the decision to retire the vessel.