Tanker Beached by Typhoon

Product tanker Sheng Chang, sailing under the Belize flag, ran aground on a beach off the port of Kaohsiung, in the midst of Typhoon Matmo’s rampage along the coast of Taiwan.

National Airborne Service Corps were dispatched to the scene, rescuing four crew members and airlifting them with the storm still raging, The China Post reports.

Kaohsiung Port officials do not envisage any danger of an oil leak from the vessel carrying only four tonnes of diesel fuel.

The tanker is still grounded some 60 miles off the coast.

The owners are expected to arrive at the scene today, to formulate further plans.

There are two possible scenarios, refloating or dismantling at the site. As reported by the China Post, the insurance on the vessel has expired.

It is yet impossible to inspect the vessel and to syphon the diesel, due to the extreme weather.

Typhoon Matmo was clocked reaching wind speeds of up to 85 miles per hour.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff; July 24, 2014