A dramatic accident earlier this month off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has resulted in the puncturing of an LNG fuel tank on a Korean capesize vessel. On July 16, the HL Eco, a 2020-built dual-fuel capesize owned by Seoul-based H-Line, experienced a loss of power while maneuvering to anchor at Hay Point.
As the HL Eco drifted, it collided with the YM Serenity, another capesize vessel owned by Yang Ming. The incident was captured on video by a seafarer aboard the Taiwanese ship. The footage shows the YM Serenity striking the port side aft of the HL Eco, causing substantial damage, including the destruction of one LNG fuel tank. Much of the LNG ended up on the deck of the YM Serenity, creating a hazardous situation.
The collision also resulted in the HL Eco taking away the starboard anchor of the YM Serenity, which suffered damage to its forecastle. Despite the severity of the accident, both ships were in ballast, and it appears that the HL Eco was operating on traditional bunker fuel rather than gas at the time.
The HL Eco is currently en route to China for repairs and assessment, while the YM Serenity is heading to Singapore. The incident has brought up concerns on whether dual-fuel vessels can be easily handled in congested anchorage areas during navigational safety.
The video of the incident, which went viral, had started several debates among people belonging to the maritime community on how risky LNG powered vessels could be without proper safety measures. Discussions on this particular crash will highlight tomorrow the risks of running LNG-powered ships and what should be done to make them safer.
The aftermath of this accident will likely result in a very serious probe by the maritime authorities to pin down what exactly happened and to avert a repeat in the future.