Thorco Shipping MPP and Stolt-Nielsen chemical tanker collide in Singapore Strait, six crew missing
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has said in a release that chemical tanker Stolt Commitment and multipurpose general cargo vessel Thorco Cloud collided in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait yesterday.
The Stolt-Nielsen owned chemical tanker sustained minor damage and is in stable condition however the Thorco Cloud, owned by Thorco Shipping, sank in Indonesian waters 6 nautical miles (11 km) north-west of Batam.
MPA deployed two patrol craft for search and rescue operations, while Singapore’s Police Coast Guard deployed five boats, and five of the 12 crew members onboard the Thorco Cloud were rescued. A sixth was rescued by the chemical tanker, however six crew member remain missing.
Indonesian authorities have also commenced search and rescue operations after been alerted by MPA.
There is no disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait, and vessels in the vicinity have been asked to report sightings of the missing crew.
Very tragic.
My deepest condolences to the affected families of the missing. Still hope they will be found Wet but alive.
Also my deepest sympathy to the Master and crew of the Tanker involved. As a master myself I can vividly picture the enormous stress and thoughts they are experiencing at this moment. Also that this will affect their life’s in one or another way. To them I can only say: I am sure all precautions were taken and things just went horribly wrong. None of you intended for this to happen. Don’t be to hard on yourself, but rather use it as a “unfortunate” tool to avoid similar accidents both for yourself and other Mariners.
God bless and they say he also forgives.
And so should you forgive yourself.
Remember: it is easy to say and think afterward: if I (we) only had…!
Don’t, just remember that you did your best at the time. And about the life that you saved out of the water.
Capt. Bjørnar Vågeng
I fully concur with Capt. Bjonar Vageng’s sentiments. Seafaring is a very demanding profession, which few people on shore are aware of. Whenever such misfortune strikes us, we have to deal with it in our own ways with support from family and friends. I know because I have been involved in a collision myself.
Capt. M.M.Manekshaw