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Update on the grounding of NYK wood-chip carrier off Hachinohe

14 Σεπτεμβρίου 2021.

crimsonnyk1 Sep. 14, 2021

In regard to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11, the bow part of the fragmented hull, which had been moored in Hachinohe port, was towed on September 13 to a destination outside Aomori prefecture by a salvage company tugboat arranged by the shipowner.

The work to remove the remaining oil from the bow part of the fragmented hull, which had started on August 30, was completed on September 11. The loaded cargo was not unloaded at Hachinohe port. As for the stern part, the Japan Coast Guard and related parties are continuing to conduct surveys to remove the remaining oil and remove the hull.

NYK will continue to make every effort to resolve the situation as soon as possible in cooperation with the shipowner, ship-management company, and other related parties.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (7)

Sep. 1, 2021

On August 26, NYK president Hitoshi Nagasawa addressed the below statement in response to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11.

On August 11, the Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris chartered from an affiliate of Doun Kisen Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Shipowner") ran aground off the coast of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture, causing the hull to split and some of the oil to spill from the Vessel's fuel tanks.

Currently, the Shipowner, together with the ship-management company Misuga Kaiun Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Ship-management Company") , is working to minimize the damage caused by the oil spill and bring the situation to a timely conclusion through the assistance by other related parties. The Shipowner is primarily responsible for responding to accidents such as oil spills, but as the charterer, we have also been providing maximum cooperation to the response, including dispatching company personnel to gather the information involved with the incident utilizing our company's network and materials and dispatching personnel to assist the shoreside clean-up operation. We intend to continue these efforts. Under the direction of the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, the local cleaning operations have already commenced with the measures against COVID-19 in place.

Concerning the environmental damage caused by the oil spill, we are working together with the other related parties to provide assistance for the recovery. After assessing the full impact of the oil spill and through consultations with relevant professionals, we will take solid actions in the light of our social responsibility.

As we continue to promote ESG management, our top priority is safe operations aimed at protecting crew members' lives and the environment, and it is our social value. We will continue to provide the Shipowner, the Ship-management Company and other related parties with assistance to quickly resolve the incident, and we ask for your understanding and support.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (6)

Aug. 30, 2021

In regard to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11, the bow part of the fragmented hull was towed into Hachinohe Port by a salvage company arranged by the ship's owner, and moored there on August 27.

Due to the weather and sea conditions, the work to remove the oil from the bow of the vessel at sea was expected to take a long time, and in order to make the work smoother and safer, the shipowner and ship-management company towed and moored the vessel in Hachinohe Port with the understanding and cooperation of the local government, related organizations, fishermen, and other concerned parties.

The salvage company will remove the remaining oil from the bow of the ship and unload the cargo. If all goes well, the removal of the remaining oil will be completed in mid-September, and the unloading of the loaded cargo will be completed at the end of September. As for the stern section, the Japan Coast Guard and related parties are continuing their investigation.

NYK will continue to make every effort to resolve the situation as soon as possible in cooperation with the shipowner, ship management company and other related parties.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (5)

Aug. 24, 2021

In response to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11, NYK will make a total of 11 dispatches of 10 employees each (totaling 110 employees) by September 11 to assist with the area clean-up.

As the charterer of the vessel, NYK has sent company personnel to the site to assist with the clean-up of the cargo and other debris that has washed ashore. Under the guidance of the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, we have been cleaning up the coast of Rokkasho village in Aomori prefecture.

By August 23, we had completed three dispatches of 10 employees each for two days and one night, and we will conduct eight more dispatches of the same number of employees for the same duration. To prevent the spread of the COVID-19, NYK workers will be taking appropriate infection-control measures and work under the guidance of the cleaning contractor.

NYK has organized a crisis management center led by NYK president Hitoshi Nagasawa to rapidly address the situation. Company personnel have been sent to the site, and necessary support will be provided to the shipowner and ship-management company. We hope the situation will be brought to a safe and timely conclusion.

Profile of Crimson Polaris

Type of ship: Wood-chip carrier
Length/Breadth: 199.9M / 32.2M
GRT: 39,910 tonnes
Built: 2008
Seafarers: 21 (Chinese, Filipino)
Flag: Panama
Shipowner: MI-DAS Line S.A. (an affiliate of Doun Kisen Co. Ltd.)
Ship-management company: Misuga Kaiun Co. Ltd.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (4)

August 19, 2021

In response to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11, 10 NYK employees were dispatched on August 18 to assist in the area clean-up.

Under the guidance of the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center,* the clean-up contractor arranged by the shipowner has continued the clean-up of oil and cargo adrift and on the shoreline.

As the charterer of the vessel, NYK has dispatched company personnel to the site to assist with the clean-up of the cargo and other debris that has washed ashore. The first group of 10 people were dispatched for two days and one night, and we plan to continue these dispatches of employee groups. In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, NYK workers take appropriate infection-control measures and work under the guidance of the cleaning contractor.

* Maritime Disaster Prevention Center

The purpose of the organization is to contribute to the protection of human life and limb and property by performing duties to implement measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of maritime disasters, possessing vessels, machinery and equipment, and materials necessary for maritime disaster prevention, conducting training and other duties related to maritime disaster prevention measures, and contributing to the promotion of international cooperation for the prevention of maritime disasters.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (3)

Aug. 12, 2021 - (as of 7:00 p.m. JST)

We have an update to the grounding of Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11.

The vessel, which had been chartered by NYK from MI-DAS Line SA (an affiliate of Doun Kisen Co., Ltd.), the owner of the ship, ran aground off Hachinohe on August 11. On August 12 at 4:15 a.m. (JST), the vessel's hull split into two pieces and began spilling oil. We are continuing our efforts to control the oil spill and monitor the split hull.

1. Control of spilled oil (as of 7:00 p.m. JST on August 12)

As of August 11, when the vessel ran aground, the ship had about 1,550 MT of heavy oil and about 130 MT of diesel oil for fuel. The amount of oil that has been spilled into the ocean has not been identified. The Maritime Disaster Prevention Center is continuing to control the oil spill using oil-treatment agents and adsorption mats. In addition, as soon as oil is confirmed to have drifted to the coast, oil recovery companies are prepared to perform beach cleaning.

2. Status of the ship

A crack that initially occurred between the No. 5 cargo hold and the No. 6 cargo hold at the rear of the vessel worsened, and the hull eventually split into two. The bow is floating and held by an anchor chain, and the stern appears to have become stranded on the seabed. The shipowner and ship-management company are currently in discussions with relevant authorities and salvage companies concerning towing and treatment of the separated hull, with the prevention of environmental pollution being given the highest priority. We are carefully monitoring the situation.

3. Investigation of the accident cause

The cause of the accident is currently being confirmed, and investigative authorities are conducting an interview with the vessel captain.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (2)

Aug. 12, 2021 - (as of 7:30 a.m. JST)

We have an update to the grounding of the chartered vessel Crimson Polaris that occurred off the coast of Hachinohe on August 11.

The hull of the vessel, a dedicated wood-chip carrier chartered by NYK, split in two at 4:15 am on August 12, and oil from the vessel has spilt into the ocean. The amount is currently under investigation.

The split hull is about 4 kilometers offshore, and the on-site response is being carried out by Japan Coast Guard patrol boats, tugboats, etc.

Grounding of Wood-Chip Carrier Crimson Polaris off Hachinohe (1)

Aug. 11, 2021 - (as of 10:30 p.m. JST)

Crimson Polaris, a dedicated wood-chip carrier chartered by NYK, was swept away by a strong wind while anchored and resultantly ran aground off Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture at around 7:35 am (JST) on August 11.

Afterward, a portion of the ship's wood-chip cargo was lost from the damaged part of the hull, NYK is currently confirming the amount of cargo and the impact on the sea area at the site. Fortunately, no oil pollution has occurred. All crew members have been evacuated from the ship with the cooperation of the Japan Coast Guard, and those seafarers have been confirmed to be safe.

The vessel is owned by MI-DAS Line S.A. and managed by Misuga Kaiun Co. Ltd. NYK is currently chartering this ship from the shipowner.

Source: NYK Group

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