Cargo ships collide off Danish coast

STOCKHOLM - Two cargo ships collided early Saturday in a dredged channel in the Oeresund strait separating Denmark and Sweden, and another cargo ship ran aground a few hours later in a separate incident nearby, rescue officials said. A few crew members on the Russian ship Pioneer Belorussii suffered minor injuries when it collided with Antigua-registered Carina J shortly after midnight Saturday, according to Danish officials. "The Russian ship had some damage in the bow, in the front of the ship above the water line; and Carina J had some damage on the starboard side midship, a hole in the hull above the water line," Danish naval duty officer Helge Nielsen said. Neither ship was at risk of sinking, he said. The cargo vessels collided in Danish waters as the Russian ship was entering the southern entrance of a dredged channel about five kilometers (three miles) south of the Oeresund bridge which connects Denmark with southern Sweden, Nielsen said. Two containers fell into the water from the Russian ship as a result of the impact, Nielsen said, adding that Danish maritime authorities were investigating oil leaks but had not found any. Nielsen said he didn't know what caused the accident, but added that weather conditions were normal and visibility was good. None of the six crew members aboard Carina J, an 87-meter(yards)-long cargo vessel operated by Norchart BV of the Netherlands, was injured, Nielsen said. He did not know how many people were aboard the 131-meter-long Russian ship, which also was operated by a Dutch company. "They're sitting for anchor," Nielsen said. "We are waiting for people from insurance companies to go aboard to see if the ships can continue their voyage." Less than five hours after the collision another cargo ship ran aground about two kilometers (1.2 mile) to the east, near the entrance to a dredged channel on the Swedish side of the strait. No one was injured aboard Malta-registered Saptari, an 140-meter (yards) vessel carrying chilled goods, and the ship was waiting for tug boats pull it out, Swedish rescue officials said. -AP

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), November 11, 2001

Answers

From Lloyds List

CARINA J. (Antigua & Barbuda) London, Nov 10 - Following received from Aarhus RCC, timed 0315, UTC: General cargo Carina J. (2463 gt, built 1990), loaded, and general cargo Pioner Belorussii (5370 gt, built 1978) , loaded, were in collision in lat 55 33.5N, long 12 42.5E, at 2302, UTC, Nov 9. Both vessels sustained heavy damage, Pioner Belorussii sustained bow damage and Carina J. was holed midships starboard side above the waterline. Carina J. also lost two containers overboard, which have not yet been located. Both vessels are now anchored in area of collision and under detention by Danish authorites. The situation is under control.

London, Nov 10 - Following received from Aarhus RCC, timed 2010, UTC: General cargo Carina J. and general cargo Pioner Belorussii are both proceeding to Copenhagen, where they are due in port shortly.

Gothenburg, Nov 10 - General cargo Carina J. and general cargo Pioner Belorussii were in collision at 0004, local time, this morning in The Sound between Satholm Island and the Danish coast. Carina J. started to take in water and was in fear of sinking and developed a list.The Danish MRCC considered it to be a great risk and crew evacuated but later returned to the vessel. Carina J also lost two containers overboard and were later reported sunk and have been located. The cause of the collision is not known. A third vessel was "involved" (Saptari, which see) as in order to avoid and not to pass the place of the collision chose another route through the Flintrannan fairway, but ran aground south of the bridge close to the Swedish coast. -

Westax Marine AB. London, Nov 11 - Following received from Aarhus RCC, timed 0827, UTC: General cargo Carina J. is now in port at Copenhagen. General cargo Pioner Belorussii is proceeding to Tallinn.

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), November 12, 2001.