Stranded Japanese vessel may become ‘wreck’

ATTEMPTS to salvage the Japanese fishing vessel, Fukuseki Maru, have been unsuccessful to date, forcing its owners to consider writing it off as a wreck.

The Fukuseki got stuck on rocks just south of the Ugab River mouth, and about two kilometres from shore on 22 March.

The accident happened while it was sailing to Walvis Bay from Angolan waters. The unsuccessful attempts to salvage the vessel were ascribed to the submerged rocky terrain and the “extreme” sea and weather conditions, according to a media statement issued by ministry of works and transport spokesperson Julius Ngweda on Wednesday.

Ngweda explained that the reason for the possible write-off was because the owners and their underwriters of the fully insured vessel are considering declaring a “constructive total loss”, meaning the salvage cost would exceed the vessel’s value.

Although the value was not declared to the media, the 380 tonnes, 50-metre-long vessel built in 1996, was described as “still in fairly good condition” prior to the accident. Just for comparison, in 2010, Tunacor bought the 560 tonnes, 53-metre ‘Katuka’ vessel for N$35 million.

“If this happens, the operation would transition from salvage to wreck removal, which will be confirmed by a wreck removal order to be issued by the minister of works and transport in terms of the Wreck and Salvage Act of 2004 and the Prevention and Combating of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Act of 1981,” said Ngweda.

The salvage operation over the last two weeks included the safety of the 24 seamen, avoiding environmental impact, and ‘floating’ the vessel so it can be pulled by the SA Amandla tugboat summoned from Cape Town. The operation is led by Japan’s Nippon Salvage Company, which is being assisted by various Namibian services such as Bay Air, who are helping with helicopter ferrying between the vessels and the shore, and Walvis Bay Diving, which is assisting with ‘on ground’ technical support.

Initially, the situation seemed ‘okay’ as only one fuel tank was damaged, and all power systems were intact to propel the vessel and maintain basic functionality on board for the crew, as well as preserve the 75 tonnes of tuna in the vessel’s freezer. Only 11 of the foreign crew were lifted from the vessel to safety, while the rest stayed behind to maintain the vessel and assist with the salvaging.

Mountings for the pull were installed and reinforced, and the main towline was able to be hooked onto the SA Amandla, and all that was needed were the right conditions.

The situation had changed, however, with more fuel tanks apparently leaking and the power generators stopping, threatening the preservation of the fish cargo, and making life difficult for the skeleton crew. The vessel was also getting water, making the task to lighten it for the pull harder.

“The engine room and other compartments, including cargo holds, are reportedly flooded. Pumps have been installed to control the flooding, though,” said Ngweda.

As a result, the entire crew was removed, while plans were made to transfer the tuna cargo to another vessel, pumping off the rest of the fuel. An estimated 30 tonnes of fuel is being removed.

According to him, the marine gas oil that leaked into the sea is a light concentrate, non-persistent fuel that will mostly evaporate and be dispersed naturally, especially in the high-energy wave zone where the vessel is lying.

“The leak has since been contained, and no oil pollution has reached the shore,” he said, adding that due to the distance between the troubled vessel and the beach, fishing spots and recreational beaches nearby have not been affected by this incident.

A preliminary assessment and review of the circumstances surrounding the incident, in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation code for the investigation of marine casualties and incidents, will be done, and the investigation will focus purely on promoting maritime safety.

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