Falcon grounded off Gladstone

A CAPESIZE bulker that ran aground in the Gladstone anchorage on Friday afternoon remains stuck today [20 September] despite the efforts of eleven Boluda Towage tugs to refloat it following the incident.

The 182,066 DWT bulk carrier Cape Falcon, built in Japan in 2022, is listed by Equasis and Class NK as owned by La Darien Navegacion SA (Shoei Kisen Kaisha) and Marugame Kisen Co Ltd, and managed by Shoei Shipmanagement Pte of Singapore.

Image: Supplied

It has undergone 12 Port State Control inspections since delivery, with Equasis recording the latest as occurring in Port Hedland in October last year. Cape Falcon is entered with the North of England P&I Association, and has traded regularly, though not constantly, with Australia.

According to AIS, Cape Falcon arrived at the Gladstone anchorage at 1338 on Friday, after loading at the Port of Hay Point at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal. It is believed the Gladstone call was to take bunkers, as the Master was manoeuvring to the Bunkering Anchorage when the ship grounded.

This was confirmed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Roads, which said in a statement to DCN:

“Maritime Safety Queensland is continuing to respond to an incident involving the bulk carrier Cape Falcon, which ran aground at slow speed at 1524hrs on 18 September while attempting to anchor in the Bunkering Anchorage, approximately six nautical miles east of the Port of Gladstone.

Image: Supplied

“A second refloat operation, using ten harbour tugs, was carried out at high tide from 1300hrs to 1630hrs on 19 September 2026. The operation achieved only minimal vessel movement and was also unsuccessful.

“The vessel will remain aground while further salvage advice is sought on options to safely move it from its current position.”

Simon Gravenall, described on LinkedIn as ‘executive maritime leader/marine casualty and salvage response’, posted a diagram of the grounding location showing Cape Falcon inside the dredging spoil zone, i.e. not in a designated anchorage. Mr Gravenall suggested the vessel was not under pilotage at the time, and it does not appear salvors have yet been appointed by owners or insurers.

“In my view, appointing salvors promptly would be imperative to reduce the risk of further damage and prolonging the incident,” Mr Gravenall told DCN. Tides are not expected to increase until mid-week. 

All tugs have returned to work in Gladstone Harbour but port operations have been impacted by the need to support recovery efforts. The ship is not in the shipping channel and there is no hull breach, pollution, injury or propulsion issue.

Local movements will recommence on a priority basis, with MSQ and Gladstone VTS continuously monitoring the situation.

As at 1500 today, Sunday, Cape Falcon is attended only by dive vessel Diva 8, arranged by the vessel owners.