INTERCARGO deeply concerned for missing bulk carrier Emerald Star
Published by Harleigh Hobbs,
Editor
Dry Bulk,
On 13 October, the 57 000 DWT bulk carrier Emerald Star sank near Luzon, with 26 seafarers on board. The bulker was carrying Indonesian nickel ore on a voyage from Indonesia to China when she sank about 150 nautical miles northeast of the Philippines.
The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has indicated it is deeply concerned with the tragic loss of Emerald Star.
To date, 16 crew members have been rescued while 10 crew members are still missing. The association has said its thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the seafarers. “As long as there is still hope, our wishes are for the missing crew to be found and the loss of life in this tragic event to be minimised,” it said in a media release.
INTERCARGO praises the Search And Rescue (SAR) coordination and efforts in response to this tragedy.
INTERCARGO appreciates the Flag State’s swift action of commencing the investigation of this casualty and encourages close collaboration among all stakeholders (e.g. Classification Society, Owner, Manager, Charterer and P&I Club) in order to submit the accident report to IMO as quickly as possible.
According to the association, lessons need to be learnt promptly after maritime casualties. INTERCARGO stresses the importance of timely submission of the casualty investigation report to IMO, as a means of identifying the causes of the incident and enabling corrective actions. To this end and given its commitment to the safety of seafarers and ships as its top priority, INTERCARGO engages itself in making full use of such a report outcome in the industry fora where it participates and in its capacity as the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners.
In the meantime, INTERCARGO urges the exercise of extreme caution when loading nickel ore and other challenging cargoes and stresses the importance of adhering to the provisions in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) to maximise safety in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes.
Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/shipping/26102017/intercargo-responds-to-loss-of-bulk-carrier-emerald-star/
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