Bulker Holed in Dock Allision Prompts New Rules for Vietnamese Port
A Japanese-owned bulker docking at a private port facility in Vietnam hit the dock on Sunday, causing significant damage to the vessel and the structure. Officials are demanding a plan for the vessel and have posted new safety regulations after the incident.
The Aquacharm (182,000 dwt) arrived at the Dung Quat port in Central Vietnam near Da Nang on October 14 after a trip from Australia. The vessel, which was built in 2022 and is registered in the Marshall Islands, was transporting over 170,000 tons of iron ore. The vessel is 292 meters (958 feet) in length. The ship has a crew of 22.
The ship held off the port, waiting for dock space, and took a pilot aboard on Sunday afternoon, October 18. The pilot had notified port officials that they were getting underway around 4:45 pm that afternoon and that they would be proceeding to Berth 10 at the Hoa Phat Dung Quat Iron and Steel Complex.
About one hour later, as the vessel was maneuvering into the berth, the large bulker struck a section of the pier that was under construction. It berthed at about 6:30 p.m., and regional officials were on hand to inspect the damage.
A preliminary inspection revealed a significant 5-meter tear across the bow of the ship. The damage extended to both sides of the ship but was well above the waterline. There was no tank damage, release of pollution, or injuries reported to the crew.
A large section of the new berth extension was also heavily damaged. The allision occurred on an extension of the pier running between berth 10 and 11, spanning approximately 50 meters (164 feet).
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The bulker remains on berth, with the authorities requesting a plan for securing the vessel. They noted that the vessel needs to be secured before the onset of heavy weather. Operations are focused on offloading the ore from the vessel.
Given the approaching rain and storm season, officials also issued, on October 20, a series of new directives governing the movement of vessels. They said that because the area could be affected by the strong northeast monsoon winds, shipowners and captains must coordinate plans to ensure the safe movement of vessels. The port authority is now requiring at least one tugboat equipped with Azimuth propellers, with a total power of at least 5,000 hp, to be stationed around the clock near the Aquacharm’s location. The tugs must be fully equipped with oil spill response, firefighting, rescue, and salvage equipment. The crews must be experienced in handling emergency situations and will be used to ensure the safe movement between the berth and anchorage.
