One of Awilco’s two LNG carriers sustained damage to its port side in a collision shortly after leaving a repair yard off Singapore in ballast.
Ship tracking data provided by Marine Traffic shows the bow area of the 156,600-cbm WilForce (built 2013) came into contact with the 39,300-dwt open-hatch bulker newbuilding Western Moscow.
The WilForce was tracked travelling at 15.8 knots on a north-easterly course with the Western Moscow, which was moving at about five knots across the bow of the LNG carrier just before the two vessels collided on 30 May.
No injuries
Awilco chief executive Jon Skule Storheill declined to comment.
Japan’s Nisshin Shipping, which is listed as the owner of the Western Moscow, did not respond to an email request for detail on the incident. While an official at its bulk shipping business hung up the phone when asked about the vessel.
The newbuilding was delivered from Chinese shipyard Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering Co early last month.
Oslo-headquartered Awilco said on Tuesday that no crew were injured or spills reported from the LNG carrier.
The WilForce had recently undergone repairs in Keppel Shipyard and left at the end of May. It was en route to load a cargo.
Awilco said the ship will undergo hull repairs and a class inspection at a Singapore yard.
"It is currently unclear how long the vessel will be off hire. The vessel has full insurance cover for repair expenses and loss of hire, subject to a deductible,” the Oslo-listed company said.
Earlier collision
Based on a preliminary assessment, Awilco holds the other vessel "fully and completely liable" for the collision, it added.
Awilco expects to recover all costs, losses and expenses including deductibles.
This is the second reported collision involving an LNG carrier this year.
In late March, the Shipping Corp of India-controlled, 155,000-cbm Aseem (built 2009) was involved in a collision with Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp’s since scrapped 281,395-dwt tanker Shinyo Ocean (built 2001) off Fujairah. The LNG carrier was holed on its port bow side.
