MOL Comfort forward section under tow to Gulf, aft section still adrift THE two parts of the 8,000-TEU MOL Comfort that split in two in a storm on June 17 off the south Arabian coast in the northern Indian Ocean are now sighted by seagoing tugs, which have the forward section under tow. 
Foto: Kaptajn Svend Degn, Torm Thyra Courtesy of Maritime Denmark
"We have started to tow the fore part toward Arabian Gulf. We will continue to monitor the aft part and prepare for the towing operation," said Japan's MOL Line in what has become daily bulletins.
"The weather at the site is still adverse. The fore part is near 15'43"N 69'07"E. The aft part is drifting near 14'03"N 65'30"E in an east-northeast direction," said the statement, putting them miles apart.
The Times of Oman reported that taking the ship into the Port of Salalah may be an option.
"The incident is of great concern," said the Salalah port official. "This is the first time that a containership of this size, heavily laden with cargo, has broken in two."
According to shipping-building industry experts, the Times report, damage can be attributed to basic design and building flaws, a serious imbalance in the weight of the loaded containers due to false cargo weight declarations, and a faulty cargo plan or faulty ballasting in the containership.
Foto: Kaptajn Svend Degn, Torm Thyra Courtesy of Maritime Denmark
Foto: Kaptajn Svend Degn, Torm Thyra Courtesy of Maritime Denmark"We have started to tow the fore part toward Arabian Gulf. We will continue to monitor the aft part and prepare for the towing operation," said Japan's MOL Line in what has become daily bulletins.
"The weather at the site is still adverse. The fore part is near 15'43"N 69'07"E. The aft part is drifting near 14'03"N 65'30"E in an east-northeast direction," said the statement, putting them miles apart.
The Times of Oman reported that taking the ship into the Port of Salalah may be an option.
"The incident is of great concern," said the Salalah port official. "This is the first time that a containership of this size, heavily laden with cargo, has broken in two."
According to shipping-building industry experts, the Times report, damage can be attributed to basic design and building flaws, a serious imbalance in the weight of the loaded containers due to false cargo weight declarations, and a faulty cargo plan or faulty ballasting in the containership.
Foto: Kaptajn Svend Degn, Torm Thyra Courtesy of Maritime Denmark 
