Grounded TS Lines' 1,065-TEUer breaks up, two die in chopper crash
THE 1,578-TEU TS Taipei that went aground off the northern Taiwan three weeks ago has split in two.
The vessel, owned by Hong Kong's TS Lines, ran aground in rough weather near New Taipei City, Taiwan on March 10.
All 21 crewmembers were rescued without injury by helicopter and more than 100 workers are involved with the cleanup and containment of an oil slick.
One of the helicopters crashed over the bow of the ship during the initial response, killing the pilot and one other person, and leaving another in critical condition. Three others survived unharmed.
The helicopter had been dropping members of the country's Environmental Protection Agency on to the grounded containership to investigate potential environmental danger resulting from the incident.
The salvage operation has focussed on the removal of fuel, however heavy weather has hampered pumping operations allowing for only six days of pumping.
The ship was carrying 447 tonnes of fuel and 617 containers when it ran aground. The Taiwanese Environmental Protection Administration reports there are still over 200 tonnes of fuel aboard the ship.
The oil slick has already fouled more than a mile of coastline, according to media reports.
But first responders could not approach the vessel by watercraft due to rough conditions.
Taiwan's Coast Guard said that the ship was leaking oil, and that they had put down a containment boom. They did not release the amount of the spill or the quantity of bunkers aboard.
According to Taiwan's environmental officials, who warned the ship is in immediate danger of capsizing, around 240 tons fuel oil, 35 tons of lube oil, and 30 tons of waste and other contaminants remains on board the ship.
Most of the 617 cargo containers the ship had been carrying, some of which are reported to contain hazardous materials, also remain on board though some have fallen off in the weeks since it ran aground.
As a result of the oil spill, officials have closed nearby fishing grounds and warned residents and visitors to stay off the beach and out of the contaminated water.
Cleanup and salvage operations have been hampered by heavy weather over the last week, but officials say oil containment efforts continue around the clock.
The TS Taipei was under way on a coastwise trip from Keelung to Taichung at the time of the grounding, according to her AIS reporting.
TS Lines, which operates smaller containerships, mostly chartered, totalling 72,000 TEU. The TS Taipei is one of the company's two owned ships, according to Alphaliner.
THE 1,578-TEU TS Taipei that went aground off the northern Taiwan three weeks ago has split in two.
The vessel, owned by Hong Kong's TS Lines, ran aground in rough weather near New Taipei City, Taiwan on March 10.
All 21 crewmembers were rescued without injury by helicopter and more than 100 workers are involved with the cleanup and containment of an oil slick.
One of the helicopters crashed over the bow of the ship during the initial response, killing the pilot and one other person, and leaving another in critical condition. Three others survived unharmed.
The helicopter had been dropping members of the country's Environmental Protection Agency on to the grounded containership to investigate potential environmental danger resulting from the incident.
The salvage operation has focussed on the removal of fuel, however heavy weather has hampered pumping operations allowing for only six days of pumping.
The ship was carrying 447 tonnes of fuel and 617 containers when it ran aground. The Taiwanese Environmental Protection Administration reports there are still over 200 tonnes of fuel aboard the ship.
The oil slick has already fouled more than a mile of coastline, according to media reports.
But first responders could not approach the vessel by watercraft due to rough conditions.
Taiwan's Coast Guard said that the ship was leaking oil, and that they had put down a containment boom. They did not release the amount of the spill or the quantity of bunkers aboard.
According to Taiwan's environmental officials, who warned the ship is in immediate danger of capsizing, around 240 tons fuel oil, 35 tons of lube oil, and 30 tons of waste and other contaminants remains on board the ship.
Most of the 617 cargo containers the ship had been carrying, some of which are reported to contain hazardous materials, also remain on board though some have fallen off in the weeks since it ran aground.
As a result of the oil spill, officials have closed nearby fishing grounds and warned residents and visitors to stay off the beach and out of the contaminated water.
Cleanup and salvage operations have been hampered by heavy weather over the last week, but officials say oil containment efforts continue around the clock.
The TS Taipei was under way on a coastwise trip from Keelung to Taichung at the time of the grounding, according to her AIS reporting.
TS Lines, which operates smaller containerships, mostly chartered, totalling 72,000 TEU. The TS Taipei is one of the company's two owned ships, according to Alphaliner.