Bulk Carrier KIND SEAS Detained in Washington Over Multiple Safety Violations – Update

MV Kind Seas file photo (c) MarineTraffic/Les Blair

Monday Update: The detention of the MV Kind Seas has been lifted by the Coast Guard, according to the ship’s managers. “Managers of the Kind Seas report that Class NK has been on board and certified the vessel’s backup generator has been fully repaired. The USCG detention has been lifted,” the statement said.

Previous: The U.S. Coast Guard detained a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier in Kalama, Washington, on Friday over multiple significant safety violations.

The USCG says vessel inspectors from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Portland discovered several discrepancies aboard the 738-foot MV Kind Seas during a routine inspection.

Safety violations were related to a complete failure of the emergency generator, deficient structural fire boundary doors, inoperable bilge pumps, and inoperable life saving communication equipment.

“Shipboard fires pose severe risk to vessel crews, the vessel, and the port,” said Capt. Patrick Ropp, commanding officer and officer in charge of marine inspection at MSU Portland. “The deficiencies were determined to pose significant risk to the vessel’s crew and the marine environment indicating that the vessel is unfit to proceed to sea.”

Coast Guard vessel inspectors are working with the Kind Seas’ flag state and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), the vessel’s classification society, and the vessel’s crew, owner, and managing company to make essential repairs.

The 998-built Kind Seas is owned by Fairplay Maritime Ltd. The vessel loaded corn and wheat in Kalama and will depart for Japan after the safety violations have been corrected.

Updated: October 17, 2023 (Originally published April 26, 2015)

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