TUGS REACH MOL COMFORT SITE

Three tugs and a patrol boat arrived  at site near the two floating sections of the MOL Comfort.

According to a statement by the shipowner, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), an additional vessel is scheduled to arrive on the 26th to assist with the salvage, or “rescue” of the hulls and cargo as MOL is describing it.

In its eighth email update since the 8,100 teu ship split in two on the morning of June 18, MOL said that the fore and aft parts were adrift in the Indian Ocean near 015º12´N, 066º53´E and 013º38´N, 064º10´E, heading in an east-northeast direction.

The weather at the site remained adverse, MOL said.

Most of the cargo is still on board the two sections, although some containers were lost or damaged during the incident, the carrier said.

The ship was deployed on Loop 1 of the G6 alliance and was heading west when the incident occurred off the Yemeni coast.MOL Comfort, Lloyd’s Register marine director and chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies Tom Boardley said: “This incident is of great concern and we want to know the cause of this structural failure.”

Commenting on the break-up of

He said the recovery of the two sections “will help those investigating to rapidly understand the reasons behind this failure”.

 

Meanwhile MOL  have started an investigation of the causes together with the shipbuilder, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,” notes MOL in their latest update. In conjunction with the shipbuilder and the classification society, ClassNK, thorough inspections of the six sister ships, the MOL Creation, MOL Charisma, MOL Celebration, MOL Courage, MOL Competence, and MOL Commitment are to begin at the earliest possible opportunity. Additionally, MOL notes that operational procedures to reduce hull stress on these vessels are also being carried out as an interim contingency plan.