The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has said that that it had warned the two grounded vessels near Batu Berhanti of the risk of grounding prior to the accident, but both vessels apparently ignored the warnings.
An Iranian container ship, the 2008-built 6,572TEU Shahraz which flies the Iranian flag, has broken its back following a grounding incident in the Singapore Straits on 11 May.
Local reports confirm there was no collision, but that the accident occured as both vessels attempted to avoid a tug. The double grounding in the Singapore Straits at Batu Berhanti is south of the Singapore Traffic Separation Scheme (STSS) in the Straits. The second vessel, the 23,573dwt Samudra Sakti I, an Indonesian flagged ship, was travelling eastbound in the narrow straits when the grounding occurred.
A spokesperson for the MPA told Container News,that the authority had received reports that an Iranian-registered container ship Shahraz and Indonesian-registered bulk carrier Samudra Sakti I had run aground at Batu Berhanti within Indonesian territorial waters.
The MPA went on to say, “Prior to the incident, both vessels were warned by MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) of the risk of grounding.”
According to the MPA vessel owners are making arrangements to survey the vessels, and are in consultation with the Indonesian authorities to refloat the vessels.
The MPA statement continued to say, “There have been no reports of injury or pollution. Shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) is not affected as both vessels are aground south of the TSS. As a precautionary measure, MPA’s POCC has issued a safety broadcast for vessels in the vicinity to navigate with caution.”
Both the Shahraz and the Samudra Sakti I were heading east, with the container ship leading the bulk carrier. Shahraz altered course to avoid a tug, Samudra Sakti I also altered course, but went further to the south of the channel.
With the narrowness of the channel at this point of the Straits both ships were grounded in quick succession, and both were travelling at “full speed” according to local reports.
Shahraz is registered to Kish Roaring Ocean Shipping Co. based in Tehran, Iran while the 2001-built Samudra Sakti I’s registered owner is Lintas Maritim, which is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
AIS Plot information is awaited.
