An Indonesian-owned supramax bulker is reported to have lost contact with authorities and is feared to have sunk.
The 52,400-dwt Nur Allya (built 2002) is said to have been out of contact since 20 August, according to authorities in the Indonesian province of Maluku.
“The Standard Club Asia confirms that the dry bulk carrier Nur Allya is entered with them," a spokesperson told TradeWinds.
"The club is supporting the vessel owner while a search for the crew and the ship continues and we hope for a successful outcome of the search and rescue operations.”
The Indonesian-flagged vessel is reported to be carrying a cargo of nickel ore, but this could not be confirmed by TradeWinds. The ship has a crew of 25 seafarers.
The local National Search and Relief Agency (Basasnas) in Maluku’s capital Ambon said the ship had gone missing in the waters around Buru Island.
“This ship sailed from Weda Island to Makassar (South Sulawesi) but for five days there was no communication with us,” a Basasnas official is quoted as saying by CNN Indonesia.
The ship, which is owned by PT Gurita Lintas Samudra, is feared to have become the latest victim of cargo liquefaction.
Cargo liquefaction has claimed more than 100 seafarers' lives over the past decade, according to figures produced by dry bulk industry association Intercargo in early 2018.
The Benchmarking Report highlighted that 101 seafarers died in liquefaction losses in the decade between 2007 and 2016.
TradeWinds has tried to contact the shipowner Tuesday, but as yet efforts have proved unsuccessful.
