Bulk carrier runs aground on Taiwan’s Orchid Island after crew abandons ship
A bulk carrier ran aground on Orchid Island, off the east coast of Taiwan, this afternoon, and authorities are concerned of a possible oil spill as Super Typhoon Krathon bears down on the area.
Keelung Coast Radio received a distress call from the crew of the 43,500-ton, Barbados-flagged vessel, Blue Lagoon, at 4:28 am, Monday. The crew reported that the ship was taking on water, the engine room was flooded, and the ship was beginning to list. Taiwan’s National Airborne Service Corp dispatched a helicopter from Taitung Airport at 6:06 am, and National Coast Guard Administration dispatched the 3,700-ton Yilan-class patrol boat Kaohsiung at 6:30 am.
The Blue Lagoon was located around 33 kilometers from Orchid Island and floundering in heavy seas generated by severe Typhoon Krathon when the distress signal was sent.
The NASC helicopter was hampered by strong winds, and was forced to abort the mission. Another helicopter was dispatched at 10:23 am, and managed to airlift six of the 19 crew members off the ship. The six men were taken to Orchid Island Airport before the helicopter returned to Taitung Airport to refuel.
A Ministry of Defense helicopter took off from Taitung Air Base at 12:38 pm, but was unable to make an airlift due to technical problems. The NASC helicopter made a second airlift at 1:51 pm and brought another seven crew members to Orchid Island. The remaining six crew members were airlifted in a third sortie by the NASC helicopter.
The crew consisted of nine Egyptian nationals, seven Ukrainians, and three Russians.
The Blue Lagoon continued to drift before running aground on the shore of Orchid Island shortly after 1:00 pm. The 229-meter-long bulk carrier is loaded with 67,500 tons of ore, 39 tons of marine oil, and 227 tons of fuel oil. Oil was reportedly seen in water around the ship and authorities are concerned of a possible oil spill.
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