Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) says the Japanese chemical tanker attacked in the Middle East Gulf on Thursday is now under tow.
The 27,000-dwt Kokuka Courageous (built 2010) is heading towards Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, the company said in a statement to TradeWinds.
“With the assistance of the US Navy our crew have now returned to the Kokuka Courageous and have restored emergency power onboard,” it said.
The vessel is described as being in a stable condition following the attack in which it sustained damage to its hull on the starboard side.
“Full damage assessments will be carried out, but there is no danger of her sinking and there is no loss of cargo or fuel containment,” BSM added.
“ We are grateful to the crew of the USS Bainbridge who are assisting our vessel and to the crew of the Coastal Ace who quickly took on our crew yesterday.”
One crewman from the Kokuka Courageous was slightly injured in the incident and has received first-aid treatment. He is now back onboard the ship.
BSM said the vessel was about 70 nautical miles from Fujairah and about 16 nautical miles from the coast of Iran when the incident happened.
The shipmanager is “actively monitoring the situation” in the Gulf of Oman and will issue another statement when it has further details.
Yutaka Katada, president of Kokuka Sangyo Co, operator of the Kokuka Courageous, expressed anger at the incident.
"I don't know why our ship was attacked," he told reporters in Tokyo. "I'm angry that the lives and safety [of the crew] were threatened."
Kokuka Sangyo said it still has a few ships that have similar trading pattern as the Kokuka Courageous in the Middle East.
"We still have a few ships that will be sailing to the Middle East. We are still looking for [a] solution to establish safety for the crew and the vessels," an official told TradeWinds.
