A Wan Hai Lines container vessel has been detained in Kaohsiung, Taiwan after it knocked into some revetment along one of the berths on 10 July, causing some damage to the facility.
The 2006-built, 2,646 TEU boxship Wan Hai 312, which plies a service connecting China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia, was about to depart from berth No. 64 in Terminal No. 2 around 7.55 pm (local time) when its port-side came into contact with the revetment.
Damage was sustained to the revetment, guardrails, street lamps and navigation lights along the revetment.
No one was injured and there were no reports of oil spills.
On 11 July, officials from Taiwan International Ports Corporation’s (TIPC) Kaohsiung branch visited the accident site and found that there were two obvious impact marks on the breakwater. One navigation light was damaged and tilted, one landscape light was knocked out, and another landscape light was tilted as a result of the impact of the knock against the breakwater.
TIPC officials have estimated that it will cost around TW$2.5 million (US$79,871) to replace the damaged navigation lights and landscape lights. The damages to the rest of the revetment facilities, such as the breakwater and underwater structural facilities, can only be evaluated after an underwater structural inspection, which is expected to be conducted today (12 July).
The damaged navigation lights are being removed and temporary navigation lights are installed. In addition, warning equipment will be set up on the site to maintain the safety of the site.
TIPC is expected to request Wan Hai to pay compensation for the damages.
S&P Global’s vessel-tracking data shows that Wan Hai 312 remains anchored in Kaohsiung; the ship was originally bound for Shantou, China. TIPC officials said that Wan Hai’s management must confirm that there is no problem with the seaworthiness of the vessel and cooperate with investigations before the ship can resume its voyage.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
