When the 56,000-dwt Emerald Star (built 2010) sank off the Philippines last month fully laden with a cargo of nickel ore in a tragedy claiming the lives of 10 crew, it was an all-too-familiar tale.

The same scenario had been played out numerous times over the past 10 years with ships such as the 56,900-dwt Nasco Diamond (built 2009), 45,000-dwt Jian Fu Star (built 1982), 50,000-dwt Hong Wei (built 2001), 56,824-dwt Trans Summer (built 2012) and others.