BV Confirms Balu Class Status

Bureau Veritas says the 9,981 dwt chemical carrier Balu, which sank about 120 miles North of La Corunna off northern Spain in heavy weather today, was fully in class and had no requirements outstanding. The Balu was on passage from Denmark to southern Spain with a cargo of about 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid. The vessel was built in Frederikstad, Norway in 1977 to DNV class. The Balu was registered in Malta, owned by Dundee Shipping & Trading and managed by Monaco-based Traschimar. Bernard Anne, managing director of BV's marine division, says, "We have offered full co-operation to and are in close contact with the Maltese and French authorities. All the information we have on the history of the vessel is being made available." This vessel was transferred to BV class in 1980. The last Classification Special Survey was carried out in April 1998. The intermediate survey was carried out in August 2000. The most recent Port State inspections BV is aware of have not shown up any structure-related deficiencies.