Vietnam: Police Investigates Vung Tau Container Tanker Collision and Sinking

As informed by the Tuoitrenews, the Investigation Police Department of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is undertaking activities to get to the bottom of events that caused the collision of the Truong Hai Star, a Vietnamese container tanker and the Thai-flagged ship, Krairatch Dignity on April 9.

The collision tore the tanker open between its bow and hold no. 1., causing rapid inflow of water and pulling the ship’s front underneath the surface. Fortunately, all of the 16 crew members managed to get to the shore safely.

Detailed reports about the accident are pending submission on the part of the pilots with an aim of clarifying what actually happened. In that respect the Vung Tau Port Authority has retained the black box of 40,000 tonnage ship, Krairatch Dignity, which was on its way out to sea when the accident occurred.

The reported damage of the sunken ship amounts to hundreds of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$48,000) in goods, since the Truong Hai Star was carrying 66 containers, of which 26 containing 64 brand-new cars. The vessel was also carrying around 50 tons of oil, luckily for the time being there is no evidence that the oil spilled.

The rescue teams have managed to recover 23 of 25 drifting containers and activities are being undertaken on searching for the remaining ones. In addition, plans are being made on pulling up the wreck from the sea, which will probably be implemented by Chu Lai Truong Hai One-member Co Ltd.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, April 12, 2012