Cargo ship cited for leaking ballast water, fuel oil

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Coast Guard issued a $5,000 notice of violation to the Liberian flagged cargo ship Ken Cape for failure to report a hazardous condition on board the vessel.

During a port state control examination of the 609-foot vessel, Coast Guard vessel inspectors from Sector Columbia River’s Marine Safety Unit in Portland, discovered approximately 120,000 gallons of ballast water and heavy fuel oil that had leaked into a cargo hold via a severely deteriorated fuel oil vent pipe.

The situation was discovered by the ship’s crew several days earlier while at sea; however, the vessel failed to report the hazardous condition to the Coast Guard, a violation that carries a maximum fine of $40,000. 

Coast Guard inspectors are working with the vessel’s flag state, vessel crew, owner, and managing company to properly remove the oil and make repairs to the vessel prior to it loading cargo and departing port. 

“The purpose of the Coast Guard’s port state control program is to eliminate substandard foreign vessels from U.S. waters,” said Capt. Pat Ropp, commanding officer of MSU Portland. “For foreign vessels calling on U.S. ports, the Coast Guard’s port state control oversight is the primary means of enforcing internationally recognized standards for safety of life at sea and pollution prevention.”

The vessel, owned by Junior Holdings S.A., intends to load grain in Kalama, Wash., and will depart for Vietnam after the port state control requirements have been met.

– See more at: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1997466/Coast-Guard-fines-vessel-for-unreported-hazardous-conditions-in-Portland-Ore-#sthash.lNgnuByV.dpuf

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Coast Guard issued a $5,000 notice of violation to the Liberian flagged cargo ship Ken Cape for failure to report a hazardous condition on board the vessel.

During a port state control examination of the 609-foot vessel, Coast Guard vessel inspectors from Sector Columbia River’s Marine Safety Unit in Portland, discovered approximately 120,000 gallons of ballast water and heavy fuel oil that had leaked into a cargo hold via a severely deteriorated fuel oil vent pipe.

The situation was discovered by the ship’s crew several days earlier while at sea; however, the vessel failed to report the hazardous condition to the Coast Guard, a violation that carries a maximum fine of $40,000.

Coast Guard inspectors are working with the vessel’s flag state, vessel crew, owner, and managing company to properly remove the oil and make repairs to the vessel prior to it loading cargo and departing port.

“The purpose of the Coast Guard’s port state control program is to eliminate substandard foreign vessels from U.S. waters,” said Capt. Pat Ropp, commanding officer of MSU Portland. “For foreign vessels calling on U.S. ports, the Coast Guard’s port state control oversight is the primary means of enforcing internationally recognized standards for safety of life at sea and pollution prevention.”

The vessel, owned by Junior Holdings S.A., intends to load grain in Kalama, Wash., and will depart for Vietnam after the port state control requirements have been met.

By Professional Mariner Staff