Container ship crew say that they feared for their safety during transpacific trip

Container ship crew say that they feared for their safety during transpacific trip

By admin  On December 15, 2022 In Insurance Marine News, Keep, Marine Liability, Political Risk, Credit & Finance 

Crew on container ship Zim Iberia (IMO 9431719) have written to their crewing agents asking for redeployment. They said that they felt unsafe when crossing the Pacific Ocean on a ship that they described as unseaworthy, reports The Loadstar.

The 4,256 teu Zim Iberia, which is owned by Zim and is under technical management of Hamburg-based Hammonia Reederei, sailed on November 3^rd from Busan, South Korea, heading to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. According to one report, two of its four auxiliary engines were out of commission and a third was operating at about half power.

The report suggested that not only was the auxiliary power insufficient for a journey across the Pacific, but that other critical systems, including seawater cooling and main engine fuel supply, were also suffering from problems. Meanwhile the main engine booster unit was operating on reduced fuel supply pumps, with no spare parts.

In addition, according to the report, pipes were leaking water into the engine room space.

When owner Zim wanted the vessel to make the return journey from Vancouver to Busan in a similar condition, the crew contacted the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), whose Canada operation promptly wrote to Transport Canada Port State Control and asked for a thorough inspection upon the vessel’s arrival. The ship was subsequently detained for nine days.

In a letter to technical manager Hammonia, the ITF noted “the dangerous situation onboard Zim Iberia since November 3^rd”. it said that ”the vessel’s transit from Asia to Vancouver was undertaken with insufficient auxiliary engine support for safe navigation. Thankfully the vessel encountered fair seas and arrived safely.”

The ITF said that “the crew feared for the safety of the ship and for themselves; now they are being let down once again. It appears the company is trying to get class DNV and Flag State to allow yet another unsafe passage back to Asia with an underperforming AE1, a dead AE2, AE3 working and AE4 dead. More specifically, AE one is in need of a full overhaul and is only producing about 56-60% of the KW power.”

The ship took more than two weeks to reach Vancouver. After being detained for nine days, it left on November 29^th.

Zim said in response that the safety and welfare of the crew were a top priority.

It added that Zim Iberia was managed by a reputable third-party management company and that “the voyage in question has been approved by the relevant authorities and a reputable maritime class [DNV] prior to departure, according to best practice. However, the vessel encountered certain operational problems. In light of the technical situation, Zim interfered and instructed the management company of the vessel to enter into a repair programme. The ship will be laid up for repairs starting from December 16^th at a shipyard in Korea.” As of December 14^th the vessel was off the Japanese coast, en route to Busan, ETA December 15^th., after which it will discharge its payload and head for repairs.

2009-built, Liberia-flagged, 40,541 gt Zim Iberia is owned by Zim Iberia LP care of Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd of Haifa, Israel. ISM manager is Hammonia Reederei of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Britannia on behalf of Zim Iberia LLP.