Bulk carrier breaks moorings, collides with container ship, runs aground at Port of Taichung

A Panamanian-registered bulk carrier was successfully refloated after mooring lines broke, causing it to drift and collide with another vessel, before running aground in shallow water yesterday, February 20.

The 27,792-gross-ton Xiang Fu was docked and unloading cement clinker at Pier 44 at the Port of Taichung when 50 knot (Beaufort Scale 8) winds, described as the level of a moderate typhoon, caused the cable lines to break, and the ship to lose its moorings. The Xiang Fu collided with the 7,197-gross-ton Hong Kong-registered container ship Yawei, docked at Pier 45, and eventually ran aground on a revetment shoal at the southern end of the port area.

Port authorities dispatched pilots to board the vessel and used three tugs to tow the ship away from the shoal at high tide at 1:15 pm.

Both the Xiang Fu and the Yawei were inspected for damage today, February 21, and found to be fully seaworthy. The Yawei was cleared leave port after unloading. The Xiang Fu will be cleared to leave once compensation is paid for damage to a set of lights at the port, and damage sustained by the Yawei.

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