The stern section of a woodchip carrier stranded outside the Japanese port of Hachinuma will not be removed until next autumn, according to the shipowner Doun Kisen's legal representative.
The 49,549-dwt Crimson Polaris (built 2006) grounded, then broke in two in a fully laden condition, outside the port in August.
The forward section floated free and has been towed away. But the stern section remains aground. The vessel was on charter to NYK Line.
Doun's legal representative told a meeting of local fishing industry claimants that, following delays, the start of the wreck removal will begin in April next year.
If things progress smoothly, the removal is scheduled to be completed by October, he said. However, the operation could be further delayed by weather and sea conditions.
The contract has been awarded to Nippon Salvage.
Compensation will shortly be paid to two fishing associations that have had to suspend operations because of the ongoing casualty.
The local fishing industry has asked the owner to allow resumption of operations by the summer vacation.
The owner's legal representative said he had taken on the wishes of the local fishing industry and would seek to conclude the wreck removal "as soon as possible".
The Crimson Polaris protection and indemnity cover is with Japan P&I Club.
As wreck-removal and compensation costs will almost certainly run in excess of $10m, claims will be paid through the International Group of P&I Clubs pool claims system.
The Crimson Polaris is one of a number of costly and prolonged wreck-removal operations that are running up costs for the International Group.
The stern section of the 203,000-dwt Wakashio (built 2007) remains aground on a reef off Mauritius after 17 months.
A wreck-removal contract for the 2,743-teu X-Press Pearl (built 2021), which caught fire and grounded in February off Sri Lanka, has only recently been awarded.
The container ship is stuck in an environmentally sensitive area, which is exposed to challenging sea and weather conditions. It is expected the removal will take several months to complete.
