AsiaGasOperationsTankers

Inquiry gets underway into Indian tanker collision

A senior port official in India has laid the finger of blame on the BW Maple VLGC for the collision which took place off Chennai on January 28 resulting in a massive fuel leak that washed up on nearby beaches.

The BW Maple collided with a local product tanker, Dawn Kanchipuram, hitting its tanks and leading to tons of fuel leaking, something local authorities have been heavily criticised for their poor response to the accident.

M.A. Bhaskarachar, chairman of Kamarajar Port maintained that the pilot of the BW Maple, who had left the ship, got in touch with the master of the gas carrier to urgently warn him he was on a collision course with the other inbound Indian tanker.

“Investigations are still ongoing, and it will not be appropriate for us to speculate on the cause of the collision. The vessel is currently at KPL Port outer anchorage, with her original crew and captain,” a spokesperson for BW LPG told Splash today.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
Back to top button