Cargo Law

From Our Reader -- For Fri., Aug. 11 2006 -

Was passing thru Dutch Harbor last week and took the attached picture of M/V Cougar Ace on the evening of Aug 11. Spoke with one of the salvors who said it was very stable and the grapevine had it that it would be rightened soon. We'll see. The cargo of Mazdas is said still to be intact, although hanging from straps that are stretched to the limit. Many jokes in Unalaska these days about beachcombing Mazdas. Anonymous if you use any of this.

[txusa03]

luckily they are not bmw cars.

[MonacoBimm]

How did that tip over?

Originally Posted by MonacoBimm

How did that tip over?

The Cargo Letter For July 26 2006 -

Mishap for M/V Cougar Ace appears to have been caused by insufficient stability within the vessel, not by a collision or outside flooding.

"There clearly was imbalance in the intake of ballast water. The company investigation ultimately will tell us what caused that imbalance," said said Greg Beuerman, a spokesman for Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which owns the 654-foot car carrier.
Still unknown is the fate of the nearly 5,000 cars - mostly Mazdas - secured in compartments with heavy chains inside the vessel, headed from Japan to Canadian and U.S. ports. Watertight compartments and doors in the ship could be helping it stay afloat.

U.S. Coast Guard officials said cutter USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)<< Webfeature, will remain at the remote site until a salvage tow arrives next week to retrieve the Singapore-flagged ship. The ship had been carrying 430 metric tons of fuel oil or 112 metric tons of diesel fuel, but only a light sheen has been detected around the ship, said Petty Officer Jesami Statesir.

U.S. Coast Guard & Alaska Air National Guard helicopters rescued the 23 crew, July 24 night, 24 hours after the ship listed sharply in the space of 10 minutes. The crew was in AnchorageJuly 25, being interviewed by company officials, insurance agents and attorneys.

Capt. of M/V Cougar Ace told officials the vessel began to list when the crew was changing the water level in the ballast tank, which regulates the ship's weight & balance.

U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring the ship but is not taking an enforcement role because the ship ran into trouble in international waters.