Car Carrier Eyed in Possible Collision With Fishing Vessel Off Japan [UPDATE]

NOCC Oceanic. Image courtesy NOCC

UPDATE: An inspection of the hull of “NOCC Oceanic” conducted Tuesday morning has revealed damage to the bow area of the vessel, indicating physical contact with an object.

Norwegian Car Carriers ASA currently has a team present in Sendai-Shiogama to assist the Japanese authorities in the investigations. The investigations are on-going.

ORIGINAL (24 JUN): Norwegian Car Carriers ASA (NOCC) is working with the Japanese Coast Guard to determine if one of their vessels was involved in a possibly fatal collision with a Japanese fishing vessel off Japan, the company said Monday.

NOCC on Monday said it has been informed by the Japanese Coast Guard that, on 23 June at 10:15 hours (LT), the Japanese flagged fishing vessel “Yujin Maru no. 7” was hit by another vessel and broke in two some 300 km off the Japanese coast south-east of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

The Japanese Coast Guard believes that the NOCC-owned vessel, “NOCC Oceanic”, may have been involved in the collision, and has instructed the vessel to proceed to the port of Sendai-Shiogama for investigations, including a check of the hull.

In a statement, NOCC says that, citing information about the incident from the 2nd Regional Office of Japan Coast Guard, eight crew members were rescued by the sister ship “Yoshi Maru No.55” at 13:50 hours LT on the same day following the collision. The Captain of “Yujin Maru no. 7” is still missing and a a rescue operation has been launched, the statement added.

NOCC says that the master of “NOCC Oceanic” has not given any indication that his vessel may have been involved in a collision, but the company has agreed to contribute fully to the investigation. “NOCC Oceanic” is now currently underway to Sendai-Shiogama port, where she is due to arrive on Monday 21:00 hours LT, NOCC says.

A team representing NOCC, its insurance underwriters, technical manager are en route to Sendai-Shiogama to assist in this investigation.

“NOCC Oceanic” is 6,450 ceu carrier that was built in 2012.

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