Bulk carrier runs aground off Taiwan, raises concerns of oil spill
NewsThe Barbados-registered bulk carrier Blue Lagoon ran aground off Taiwan during Super Typhoon Krathon, leading to the safe evacuation of its 19-member crew.
Oil spill detected near bulk carrier grounded off Taiwan
NewsBlue Lagoon, a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier ran aground off Taiwan during Super Typhoon Krathon, causing an oil spill that contaminated the coastline.
An oil spill has been reported from a bulk carrier registered under the Barbados flag, which ran aground during a storm off the coast of Taiwan.
On 1 October, the vessel Blue Lagoon became stranded near Taiwan’s southeastern coast while facing turbulent seas caused by Super Typhoon Krathon.
According to the Taiwanese Central News Agency, the hull of the ship sustained cracks, leading to an oil leak that has polluted the surrounding coastline.
Residents of Lanyu stated that the ship had initially been positioned between Longmen Port and Xiaolanyu, but winds and currents gradually pushed it towards Longmen, where it eventually ran aground.
Zhou Yuzhu, the secretary of Lanyu Township Office, reported that fuel spills had contaminated the coast, prompting the office to request an immediate response from the government.
The 229-metre-long vessel was transporting 67,500 tonnes of iron ore from China to Singapore when it encountered the typhoon. In addition to the iron ore, the Blue Lagoon was carrying 39 tonnes of marine oil and 227 tonnes of very low-sulphur fuel oil.
The crew, consisting of 19 members from Ukraine, Egypt, and Russia, was rescued by helicopters. Despite the perilous conditions, all crew members were safely evacuated to Orchid Island, where medical checks confirmed they were in good health.
The Blue Lagoon, a 79,000 dwt bulk carrier built in 2010, is owned by Nova Gemi of Turkey, and operated by Unimanager of Latvia.