The car carrier Sincerity Ace has arrived in Japan a month after a massive cargo fire that forced its crew to abandon ship in the Pacific in early January.
AIS data shows the 5,221-ceu vessel (built 2009) arrived in Subushi Bay on the south-western Japanese island of Kyushu late last week.
The vessel was towed there by a 10,000-bhp anchor handling tug supply vessel, the Koyo Maru (built 1998), which was contracted by Japanese salvor Nippon Salvage.
Temporary repairs
It is understood the vessel is to undergo damage assessment and temporary repairs to allow it to sail to Mokpo, South Korea, for full repairs.
The decision to repair the vessel will come as some relief to hull underwriters, as there was concern — given the severity of the fire and the age of the vessel — that it could end up a constructive total loss.
The ship’s owner, Imabari-based Shoei Kisen Kaisha, has declared general average. meaning all of the casualty costs will be shared among the hull, cargo, and protection and indemnity insurance interests.
The 6,500-ceu Sincerity Ace (built 2009) has P&I cover with the Standard Club.
However, the biggest claim is likely to result from cargo loss.
The ship was reportedly heading for the US West Coast with 3,500 new Nissan cars onboard.
Pictures of the fire, which centred on the ship’s cargo holds, suggest it is unlikely that any of the cars can be salvaged.
The potential cargo value is estimated to be in excess of $100m. However, there is little indication so far of the cause of the fire. The Sincerity Ace was on charter to MOL at the time of the casualty.
In a separate incident, Hapag-Lloyd, the owner of the 7,250-teu containership Yantian Express (built 2002), which was also hit by a massive cargo fire off the coast of Canada in early January, has also declared general average.
The vessel has now arrived at Grand Bahama Island for damage assessment.
Blaze damage
The early indications are that the front 12 container rows of the vessel have been damaged by the fire.
However, the damage is not expected to be bad enough for the Hapag-Lloyd-operated vessel to be declared a constructive total loss.
Hapag-Lloyd has appointed adjuster Richards Hogg Lindley to oversee the general process.
The Yantian Express has P&I cover with Britannia P&I.
