Bulker Still Grounded on Nobbys Beach

The 40,000-ton Pasha Bulker ran aground just before 10 am Friday, June 8, at Nobbys Beach, Newcastle during high seas and gale force winds. The coal ship is owned by Japanese shipowner Fukujin Kisen Co. and was chartered by Danish Lauritzen Bulkers that sublet the bulk carrier to another Japanese shipping business. The vessel was due to enter the Port of Newcastle on Tuesday, June 12, to load 58,000 tons of coal. The 22 members of the crew were safely airlifted from the vessel on the afternoon of the grounding -- all the vessel currently has on board is 700 tons of fuel oil, 40 tons of lube oil, and 34 tons of diesel. The initial inspection by the salvage team that boarded the Pasha Bulker discovered a hole in the outer hull of the vessel. However, thanks to the vessel’s double hull design, there is no leakage of oil or diesel because the vessel’s inner skin has not been punctured. The hole in the outer hull is presumed to have been caused by the ship moving across Nobby’s “Big Ben” reef. Nevertheless, because the hull may be punctured again during salvage operations, all the fuel is being pumped to containment areas away from the hull, near the ship’s deck and oil pollution equipment is being taken to Nobbys Beach as a “precautionary” measure. Additionally, a hydrographic survey of the ocean floor around the grounded vessel will be conducted on Thursday, June 14, to assist in preparations to refloat the Pasha Bulker. A press statement released on June 13 by NSW (New South Wales) Maritime describes the current salvage operations: “A second salvage tug, the Keera, arrived in Newcastle this morning to join the Woona which arrived on Monday. The salvage team is also sourcing an anchor handling vessel. Meanwhile, the No.4 hold of the Pasha Bulker is being ballasted with water to assist in its stabilisation on the beach. The salvage team is today pumping fuel to higher parts of the ship. Newcastle Port Corporation and NSW Maritime are working together with the support of a number of agencies including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.” When MarEx went online, salvage experts were still making plans to refloat the vessel regardless of the one confirmed hole. According to the Ports Minister, Joe Tripodi, the salvage operation’s costs would be met by the vessel’s owner. A press release dated the day of the grounding by Lauritzen Bulkers, the charterer of the Pasha Bulker, states: “Lauritzen Bulkers follows the situation very closely and will do their utmost to assist and support the Japanese owner of the vessel as well as the shipping company that has the Pasha Bulker on sublet.”