THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority is co-ordinating the rescue of a fully-laden bulk carrier around 500 kilometres off the Queensland coast.
The 79,343 DWT Liberia-flagged Swift Hangzhou, built in 2015 and registered to Tianjin Leshui3 Leasing Ltd of Guangzhou, and managed by Everest Shipping Pte Ltd of Singapore, left Gladstone on 31 January for South Korea but reported engine issues shortly after departure.
AMSA activated an incident management team (IMT) on Monday 2 February to manage and coordinate resolution to the incident, working with Queensland authorities, the vessel’s captain and operator.
Following directions issued to the owner and operator on the evening of Tuesday 3 February, AMSA has tasked to date four ETVs (emergency towing vessels) to render assistance and ensure the vessel remains clear of navigation hazards.
These include the Boluda Towage Australia tug SL Lulu, summoned from Gladstone to the vessel in the vicinity of Cato Reef on Sunday [8 February] and Svitzer Brisbane tug Beltana on Monday to same destination, and the Cairns-based designated Great Barrier Reef/Torres Strait ETV Reef Keeper, also operated by BTA under contract to AMSA. Svitzer Glenrock, enroute from Cairns to Newcastle after drydocking, stood by.
The Authority also deployed a maritime casualty officer (MCO) to board the vessel, to provide liaison between the captain and crew and AMSA, on-the-ground intelligence, and assistance in determining the best course of action.
AMSA says Swift Hangzhou vessel is assessed as safe in its current position—currently showing on AIS as having “restricted manoeuvrability”, with destination Hadong, Vietnam—and is “closely monitoring for any potential risks of movement towards nearby reef systems and forecast weather conditions".
“AMSA understands the 21 crew onboard are safe and well, with access to necessities and provisions. AMSA continues to assess operational and safety risks to implement plans to support safety of crew and protection of marine environment and is working closely with the relevant Queensland authorities.”