Stricken LPG tanker Victoire headed for Fiji

THE LPG tanker Victoire, which broke down in eastern Bass Strait on 4 April and was eventually towed to refuge in Eden, will depart later this week under tow to Fiji for discharge and potential repairs.

The Geogas vessel, laden with 2,269 tonnes of butane, departed Western Port at 0850 on 3 April and later reported ‘not under command’. AMSA was notified about 1600 the following day that Victoire had lost main engine power due to a mechanical issue, and was then about 45 km south-east of Mallacoota in Victoria. 

After some problems with a fouled towing line the tanker was taken from a position east-south-east of Gabo Island by Pacifc Tug’s Eden-based, salvage-capable Wambiri into Twofold Bay at 2145 9 April and anchored pending inspection.

The drama was not over, however, as Victoire lost its anchor during heavy weather in Twofold Bay on Good Friday and had to be taken to sea by Wambiri until conditions moderated and Victoire could be brought back and re-anchored. AMSA told DCN it was aware of the incident and plans to retrieve the anchor.

Another of Pacific Tug’s fleet, P.T. Fortitude left Brisbane 24 April and called Port Kembla yesterday 27 April en route to Eden, where it arrived today. Tug and tow are currently listed to depart for Suva on Friday [2 May].

AMSA said it is working with the vessel’s operators to finalise towage arrangements.

The 2005-built, Panama-flagged Victoire is owned by Gas Pacifique SAS (Geogas of France/Switzerland, an LPG tanker specialist) and operated by subsidiary Oceangas Services Australia of Sydney throughout Australia, NZ, PNG and the South Pacific. It is classed with NKK, insured with Gard and due for its next special survey this month.

The 3,742 GT Victoire and sister Maea, also under Oceangas management, are 4,000 cu m capacity. Also operated regionally are the 5,000 cu m Epic St Agnes, Gas Ace, Gas Blossom, Arago, Gas Kate, Epic St Vincent and Astrid.

P.T. Fortitude was involved in the recovery of fleetmate Bougainville, whichinfamously lost its propeller in Bass Strait in early February last year as it was preparing to berth at Hastings; it was initially towed to the Cowes anchorage in Western Port, before departing north 29 February under tow of Pacific Tug’s P.T. Fortitude.

The latter handed over to Chinese deepsea tug Ning Hai Tuo 6002 at Bundaberg on 24 March, which took the tanker to Subic Bay (20 April) for repairs. By July it was back loading at Western Pot, under the name Gas Kate.