When ships dance together
An article in the Novemebr 11th edition of Lloyds List had quite a few dramatic pictures of the collision involving AP MOller-Maersk Group’s LPG carrier Maersk Holyhead and the fully laden bulker Pequot.
The pictures were taken from the bridge of the bulker, and are remarkable photographs but they do not really explain what happen. Read more here on New Zealand Ships and Marine Society and Rigzone.com also.
Here’s the press release from Maersk…
07 November 2005
Press Release
MAERSK HOLYHEAD involved in collision
MAERSK HOLYHEAD, a 20,900 cbm semi-ref liquefied petroleum gas carrier (lpg-carrier), on Sunday 6 November 2005 about 1745 local time collided with the Liberian panamax bulk carrier PEQUOT 53-55 miles off the Maracaibo Lake channel.
MAERSK HOLYHEAD is carrying about 11,200 metric tons propane.
We are grateful that our Venezuelan officers and crew as well as the vessel are safe. The vessel is now alongside in the discharge port El Tablazo and is awaiting additional oil containment equipment before initiating the discharge operation.
The collision has resulted in a hole in the vessel’s starboard side above and below the waterline as well as a leakage in a bunker tank containing about 500 cbm of fuel oil. The oil from this tank is presently leaking into the sea. The cause for the accident has not been clarified yet.
The A.P. Moller – Maersk Group is committed to the protection of the marine environment – it is in fact an integral part of our business philosophy and policy, and we are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to carry out an adequate and effective response to the oil pollution and to determine causes and effects of the incident.
Technical expert assistance is presently being arranged flown out from Copenhagen.
Further relevant factual information will be provided when available.
MAERSK HOLYHEAD was delivered from Mitsui Shipyard, Japan in 2000, registered in Guanta Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela and has Venezuelan officers and crew onboard. The vessel has been employed for more than 4 years by the Venezuelan national oil company, for coastal trade.
A.P. Moller – Maersk
Corporate Communications, Copenhagen
