The master of a capesize bulker involved in a collision with a ship at anchor off Queensland that damaged an LNG bunker tank has appeared in court in Australia.
Jin Woo Jun, the South Korean master of the H-Line-controlled 179,070-dwt HL Eco (built 2020), attended Mackay Magistrates Court, Queensland, on 30 July.
In a statement to TradeWinds, a spokesperson for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the master appeared in court concerning an offence against the Navigation Act 2012.
The Courier Mail newspaper named the HL Eco’s captain and said he had been granted AUD 30,000 ($19,600) bail.
The incident occurred on 16 July at Hay Point port.
The court heard that Jun contravened Navigation Act regulations in relation to the prevention of collisions while in charge of the vessel.
“The matter will return to court on 3 September 2024,” AMSA said.
The HL Eco’s collision with the Japanese-controlled 181,458-dwt YM Serenity (ex-Lowlands Serenity, built 2011) sent a ripple of concern through the LNG fuelling industry.
An up-close video of the collision showed the port side rear-mounted LNG bunker tank on the HL Eco being sliced into and insulation foam cascading onto the deck of the other vessel.
There were fears over the risk to nearby crew from any leak of LNG.
AMSA said it sent a specialist team of incident investigators to assess the seaworthiness of the vessels.
“There were no releases of LNG during or following the incident, it was within the vessel at all times,” AMSA said.
“The bulk carriers HL Eco and YM Serenity were detained following the incident due to seaworthiness issues and a suspicion of involvement in a contravention of the law,” an AMSA spokesperson said.
“Following investigations, AMSA is seeking that the master of HL Eco be held to account for a contravention.
“Both vessel operators worked with AMSA to rectify and clear any seaworthiness concerns. The vessels and the operators have departed Australian waters to seek repairs at an overseas port,” the spokesperson said.
The HL Eco departed Hay Point on 26 July and appears to be heading to China.
