Shipwreck Log

Photo: odin.tc

The 351 dwt fishing vessel Taigan caught fire while near the port at Wakkanai, Japan.  The vessel had arrived at Wakkanai with a cargo of crabs caught off Sakhalin Island near Korsakov, Russia.   The fire started in the vessel’s superstructure and quickly spread through the vessel.   Of the 23 crewmen on board the Taigan, six were trapped below decks and perished in the blaze.  Another three men were taken to hospital for minor burns.  The local authorities were able to extinguish the fire a few hours later.   The cause of the fire is under investigation.   Reports state the vessel’s cargo of crabs may have been illegally caught.  Other reports state the vessel had change names and ownership several time over the last few years.

The 159 meter long, 17697 dwt container ship Wan Hai 162 collided with two fishing vessels off Japan in Osaka Bay.  The two fishing vessels capsized spilling out the four crewmen into the water.   Three crew were rescued from the water while one remains missing.  The survivors were taken to hospital for treatment where one later perished a short time later.   No reports of injuries or damage on the Wan Hai 162.   Japanese authorities have launched an investigation into incident.

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• One dead, one missing in Japan ship collision (shippingtribune.com)
• 1 dead, 1 missing in Japan ship collision (newsinfo.inquirer.net)

The 29 ton fishing vessel Hwang Gum 3005 caught fire in bad weather near Uotsuri Island, Pinnacle Islands.  The strong winds and heavy seas complicated the situation as the fire spread through the vessel.  The crew of nine were able to send out a distress call before they were force to abandon ship.  The men donned lifejackets and jumped into the water as the Hwang Gum 3005 sank.   Another fishing vessel was able to relay the distress call to authorities.  The Japanese Coast Guard dispatched two patrol boats to the scene.    Reports state five crewmen were pulled from the water.   However, four of the five later perished from their injuries.   The remaining four crewmen were still reported missing.   An aircraft was dispatched later to help with the search effort.

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• Four dead in ship sinking in sea off Jeju (shippingtribune.com)
• Four dead in S Korean fishing boat fire (nation.com.pk)

The 69 meter long, 1552 dwt freighter Chun Xing caught fire in the Sea of Japan near Kobe, Japan.   The Chun Xing had departed Kobe bound for China with 948 tons of scrap when a fire broke out in the cargo hold.   The crew requested assistance with the Japanese Coast Guard responding.   Several patrol boats arrived on scene and assisted the crew in controlling the blaze.  The vessel returned to port where  it took several more hours to extinguish the fire.    No reports of injuries to the nine crew on board.  No further details reported.

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• Cargo ship with Chinese crew on fire off Kobe, western Japan (nzweek.com)