Wood Chip carrier Crimson Polaris splits in two in Japan

Crimson Polaris, a dedicated wood-chip carrier operated by NYK, owned by MI-DAS Line S.A and managed by Misuga Kaiun Co. Ltd was swept away by strong winds while it was anchored and ran aground off Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture in Japan on 11th August 2021.

The hull of the vessel eventually split in two in the early hours of 12th August and oil from the vessel has spilt into the ocean. The oil leak from the ship has reportedly spread around 15 miles but the extent of any environmental impact and quantity is still under investigation and unclear as yet.

Authorities were trying to contain the oil leak but have not yet been able to erect an oil fence around the boat as per a Japanese Coast Guard spokesperson.

The split hull of the Crimson Polaris is about 4 km offshore of Hachinohe Port, on the northeast coast of Japan’s Honshu island with on-site response is being carried out by Japan Coast Guard patrol boats and tugboats.

“The vessel’s two parts have not moved and are being closely monitored by patrol boats, and by late afternoon there had been no apparent major change in its situation“, a Japanese Coast Guard spokesperson said.

“The patrol boats will operate overnight to avoid collisions”, he said, adding that “no other ship was known to be involved in the accident.”

All 21 crew members consisting of Chinese and Filipinos were safely evacuated from the ship by helicopter from the vessel with the assistance of the Japanese Coast Guard.

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NYK has issued a press release about the maritime disaster advising that a crisis management center has been set up led by NYK president Hitoshi Nagasawa to rapidly address the situation.

“Company personnel have been sent to the site, and necessary support will be provided to the shipowner and ship-management company. We hope the situation will be bought to a safe and timely conclusion.” the release said.

The Crimson Polaris is a specialised wood chip carrier with a DWT of 49,549 tonnes and a GRT of 39,910-tonne and was registered in Panama.

The ship built in 2013 was said to be on its way from Thailand to Japan when the ship sent out a distress call to the Japanese Coast Guard indicating that the ship was having trouble navigating heavy weather.