BULKER Cape Falcon remains aground on the edge of the dredge spoil ground adjacent to Gladstone’s bunkering anchorage for a fourth day and it’s still unclear if salvors have been appointed.
AMSA has now confirmed the 182,066 DWT, Liberian-flag Capesize has been detained under the Navigation Act 2012 pending assessment of seaworthiness. Maritime Safety Queensland is leading the operational response activities within the port limits area of Gladstone, but told DCN this afternoon there are no updates to the situation advised yesterday.
Cape Falcon, built 2022 and owned and managed by companies within Japan’s Shoei Kisen Kaisha, is on charter to Eyal Ofer’s UK-based Zodiac Maritime Agencies, according to broker records. The ship is/was listed for a two-port discharge in the Philippines, at Tabasco/Legaspi, MSQ data notes.
Unconfirmed reports suggest owners are seeking a crane/barge, implying lightening of the ship is contemplated.
Maritime consultant Simon Gravenall, writing on LinkedIn, says the ship’s predicament is clear: “Checking the AIS past track tells you everything you need. Zoom into her past track and there's barely any movement, she's essentially static, held firmly by the bow, her heading hasn't shifted either.
“Compare that to Voy Trust, a nearby anchored ship to the north, safely at anchor and swinging normally on her cable as tide and wind dictate. Side by side, the difference is obvious.”
Mr Gravenall believes the ship undertook a two-terminal load at Hay Point/Dalrymple Bay before heading to Gladstone for bunkers.
“Most people outside the industry assume a bulk carrier has one grade of coal, load it once, ship it, done. This was a two-terminal load at Hay Point, so potentially a different grade in every hatch, different owners, different specifications,” Mr Gravenall writes.
“You cannot simply shift cargo between hatches to trim her off even if there is room in a hatch. Lightering her could mean thousands of tonnes coming off, possibly up to 10,000, a ground reaction calculation will assist a salvor in determining that figure. Lightering different grades brings its own logistics issues, and co-mingling brings its own commercial issues too.”
Experts consulted by DCN suggest equipment would likely have to be sourced from Singapore or Indonesia, and note that cyclone season is just 40 days away.
DCN understands the Australian office of UK-based energy and marine consultancy ABL has been appointed to assess Cape Falcon’s hull condition.
Meanwhile, the ATSB has begun an investigation into the grounding.
“The ATSB is not involved with the ship’s recovery operations but is continuing to monitor the situation as part of its investigation. The ATSB will attend the ship to conduct interviews and collect evidence and data once appropriate,” the Bureau told DCN.
“In the meantime, data from the ship’s voyage data recorder will be preserved and investigators will collect other relevant recorded information, including ship tracking data, weather information, and crew, operator and maintenance records.
“The ATSB will provide a substantive update on the progress of the investigation when it releases a preliminary report in about two months.
“The investigation’s findings will be contained in a final report to be released at the conclusion of the investigation. The final report will also detail the ATSB’s analysis of the evidence to support those findings.
“However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so safety action can be taken,” a spokesperson affirmed.
No injuries have been reported to the ship’s crew, and no damage, hull breaches or pollution have been reported.