In a statement OSG Ship Management confirmed that the215,000-cbm AlGharrafa (built 2008) was in collision with the 10,114-teu Hanjin Italy(built 2011) collided on 28 December at 1224 UTC while transiting the SingaporeStrait.

OSG, which is the operator and manager of Al Gharrafa, said:“There are no reported injuries of seafarers, no damage to the containmentsystem, no pollution risk or other impact on the environment.”

Safely anchored

The company continued: “As at January 3, 2014, Al Gharrafais safely at anchorage in Singapore. The classification society has surveyedthe vessel and stated that the incident did not adversely affect the vessel’sintegrity or ability to sail.

“The incident is under investigation and OSG Ship Management (UK) Ltd, asmanager is working closely with the appropriate authorities,” OSG added.

The LNG carrier’s charterer Qatargas said in a statement: “Safetyis our number one priority .. . Emergency notifications were made immediatelyfollowing the incident and response resources activated.”

The Qatari LNG producer added: “We are committed tounderstanding the cause of the incident which is currently under investigation.OSG Ship Management (UK), as manager of the vessel, is working closely with theappropriate authorities in this regard.”

Photos sent to TradeWinds show Al Gharrafa appears to havesuffered serious bow damage while the Hanjin Italy appears to show dents andscrapes to its hull and a split container amidships on its starboard side.

It is unclear, as yet, if the LNG cargo will need to beoffloaded from the Q-Flex.

Al Gharrafa is understood to have been en route to TokyoElectric Power Co’s Futtsu LNG terminal in Japan.

The vessel, in which OSG has a 50.1% stake with Qatarishipowner Nakilat holding the balance, is on long-term charter to Qatargas.

Danaos plans cargo discharge

Electronic data show Hanjin Italy, which is listed as ownedand managed by Danaos Shipping of Greece, is also currently at anchor offSingapore.

Danaos said in statement: “The company is now in the processof securing a berth at Singapore in order to discharge the cargo, so the vesselcan proceed for repairs.

“No one was injured during the incident and there has beenno pollution. The company is closely cooperating with all appropriateauthorities,” the company said.

Danaos added that vessel, which sails under the Liberianflag, was en route from Singapore to Yantian, China at the time of theincident.