A container ship operated by TS Lines sustained severe damage to its bow after an accident in Taichung port, Taiwan.
The Maritime Port Bureau stated that the 1,049 TEU feeder vessel, Asiatic Sun, knocked into Pier 8A on the morning of 26 December, around 7.33 am local time.
The boxship, serving a Taiwan-China-Japan-South Korea service, had arrived from Keelung and was supposed to dock at Pier 10. However, strong winds apparently caused the ship’s crew to lose control of the vessel, resulting in the accident.
Witnesses said that they heard the crew members shouting, “Oh my God!” as the ship rammed the berth. Some damage to the 7m-long berth also resulted.
The Maritime Port Bureau said there was no other damage to the 2008-built ship and none of the crew on Asiatic Sun was injured. No oil pollution and leakage was reported.
All 584 containers on Asiatic Sun were offloaded at Pier 11.
Taiwan International Ports Corporation’s Taichung branch director Lin Chunfu, held an emergency response shortly after the accident, ordering that luminous buoys be placed around the accident scene and that the vessel owner should arrange an underwater inspection of the ship as soon as possible. Damage to the seaside structure of the wharf will also be assessed.
The Maritime Port Bureau deployed three tugs to tow the ship away. AIS data shows that Asiatic Sun is now awaiting damage assessment in Pier 31.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
