Large ship runs aground in Japan, kills two -

Mitsui Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:15 AM IST HONG KONG (Reuters) -

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL), one of the world's largest shipping companies, said a large dry bulk carrier went aground off the Japanese port of Kashima in Ibaraki, killing two.

The company said in a statement that eight crew members of the carrier, Giant Step, were still missing following the accident on Friday.

Three drifted ashore, and the remaining 13 crew members had been rescued. Giant Step was carrying 190,000 tonnes of iron ore from Australian port of Port Walcott. Mitsui said the hull of the Panama-flagged ship, built in 1985, broke into three segments, affected by a storm.

Both iron ore powder and bunker fuel was spilling. "MOL will start extracting bunker oil from the hull as soon as wave action quiets enough to make the work feasible," it said. "MOL expresses its deepest condolences to the crew members who lost their lives and heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families." Of the crew members, 25 were from India and one is from Sri Lanka, the company added. Giant Step right after the accident(Above) and at harbor before the accident (Below) Profile of Giant Step Flag: Panama Number of crew members: 25 Indians including the master, and 1 Sri Lankan Deadweight: 197,060 tons Gross tons: 98,587 tons Built: 1985

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