Tanker Grounds after Colliding with Bulker off Antwerp
The 40,600 dwt tanker Seatrout has run aground off Antwerp after it collided with the bulk carrier Usolie.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours on September 20 while both vessels were sailing in the same direction on the Scheldt river. The tanker was not loaded with cargo at the time.
The authorities said that the tanker, which is being monitored by several tug boats, would be refloated at high tide in the afternoon hours. The salvage operation is scheduled at around 3 pm local time, when six tugboats will try to pull the ship from its resting place, according to Zeeland Veilig.
Vessel traffic is the area would be halted at the time of the salvage operation.
Momenteel liggen wij stand-by bij de tanker Seatrout die gestrand is na een aanvaring met de Usolie t.h.v. Bath. #KNRM pic.twitter.com/RfHwf7pLAu
— KNRM Hansweert (@KNRMHansweert) September 20, 2017
The 188-meter-long Seatrout, which was on its way from Antwerp to Russia’s Ust-Luga port when it collided with the bulker, is currently stable and the ship’s 17 crew members are reported to be safe.
After initial inspection, Zeeland Veilig informed that the bulk carrier does not have any visible damages. The 68,788 dwt ship sailed to Vlissingen, where it is currently anchored, according to AIS data provided by MarineTraffic.
World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: KNRM Hansweert
